Coolmore champion High Chaparral surged to new heights with an unprecedented trifecta in the Group 1 AJC Australian Derby at Randwick on Saturday.  Queensland raider Shoot Out confirmed his rating at Australia’s Champion 3yo Stayer when he split runners in the straight to win the classic from fellow High Chaparral gallopers Descarado and Monaco Consul.

High Chaparral’s achievement in siring a Group 1 Derby trifecta puts him in rarefied company.  His own sire Sadler’s Wells sired the 1999 Irish Derby trifecta when Montjeu defeated Daliapour and Tchaikovsky and he repeated the feat when High Chaparral won the same race in 2002 beating Sholokov and Ballingarry.

High Chaparral won in Group 1 company at two, three and four with career highlights in the English and Irish Derbies, plus back-to-back wins in the Breeders Cup Turf.

Despite his impressive feats on the racetrack, High Chaparral stood in the shadow of established stars Galileo and Montjeu when starting off his shuttling career at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand.

The first High Chaparral progeny from his New Zealand sojourn hit the sale ring in 2008 and what a surprise packet they have been!  That crop has yielded Group 1 winners So You Think (Cox Plate), Monaco Consul (VRC Derby, AJC Spring Champion Stakes) and now Shoot Out (AJC Australian Derby, Randwick Guineas).

Shoot Out (3g High Chaparral – Pentamerous, by Pentire) was among the tailenders off a pedestrian pace turning for home in the Derby but he quickly silenced the critics who questioned his ability to run the 2400 metres right out.

With Stathi Katsidis piloting a path between runners, Shoot Out shot the front to score by more than a length from Descarado (3g High Chaparral – Karamea Lady by Lord Ballina) and fast-finisher Monaco Consul (3c High Chaparral – Argante by Star Way).

Shoot Out first came to attention with a G2 victory in the QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes last winter and he firmed into favouritism for the time-honoured classic after lead-up wins in the G3 Royal Sovereign Stakes and G1 Randwick Guineas.

“He could develop into any sort of horse later on,” trainer John Wallace said.  “It’s a big thrill.  Some great champions have won this race.  And good trainers – so I feel pretty humble.”

Shoot Out is raced by Graham and Linda Huddy who purchased him from the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale for just $15,000.  He was bred by Neville Stewart at Oaklands Stud near Toowoomba.

His dam Pentamerous (Pentire) is a winning half-sister to G2VRC Craiglee Stakes winner Native Jazz.  She is also the dam of G3 WA Oaks winner Cassandara Shadow.

High Chaparral will be a welcome addition to the roster at Coolmore Australia this spring.  His service fee is yet to be announced.