Classy Queensland three-year-old Shoot Out made the best possible start to his Sydney campaign when he gave his rivals a start and beating in the G2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.  In a thrilling finish, the High Chaparral gelding got up in the very last stride to beat More Than Great.

Trainer John Wallace has always held a big opinion of the lightly raced galloper who won the G2 QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes at the 2009 winter carnival.  “He’s always shown me plenty,” Wallace said.  “A lot of blokes doubted me but I knew he was real good.”

Shoot Out (3g High Chaparral – Pentamerous by Pentire) was a $15,000 buy for Linda Huddy from the Oaklands Stud draft at the 2008 Gold Coast Magic Millions and has now banked almost $300,000.

Winning rider Kerrin McEvoy was impressed with how the Queenslander lengthened in the straight.  “John said he would run well.  All I had to do was cover him up.  Once balanced, he reeled them in.”

Windsor Park shuttler High Chaparral took an early lead in the Australian second-season sires’ premiership this season after the G1 triumphs of Monaco Consul and So You Think in the spring.

So You Think has been sidelined until the spring but Shoot Out can keep the till ticking over leading up to the G1 Australian Derby at Randwick in April.

High Chaparral is a half-brother to G2 WA Oaks winner Cassandara Shadow (Johannesburg).  Their dam Pentamerous has since foaled two fillies by Oaklands Stud sire Ferocity.  Her yearling made $160,000 at the 2010 Gold Coast magic Millions.