Trainer John Wallace declared Shoot Out would win the Cox Plate following his outstanding victory in the G2 J J Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.  Despite covering extra ground throughout, Shoot Out was able to storm home on the outside of runners and win impressively.

Moments after the race Wallace sent a message to his likely Cox Plate rivals suggesting his star would still make great improvement this preparation.

Bookmakers reacted to the outstanding win with Betstar cutting his Cox Plate quote from $9 to $6.  He’s now a clear favourite for the 2040 metre Moonee Valley feature.

“He’s a good horse and he really knows how to win,” John Wallace beamed. “I was thinking, how wide can this bloke get, but he knew what he was doing. He’s a real racehorse.

“He will get better,” Wallace said without hesitation. “He’s nowhere near ready. I’ve just been playing about with him. He’ll win the Cox Plate.”

Shoot Out will face the Peter Moody trained mare Typhoon Tracy in the Memsie Stakes in a fortnight.  “He might find it a bit hard next start to beat her over 1400 metres. But after that, look out when he goes a bit further.  Peter Moody is a mate so I want to have a go at him.”

Shoot Out (High Chaparral) defeated the Mick Price trained stablemates Predatory Pricer Heart of Dream in the Liston.

Shoot Out is raced by Graham and Linda Huddy – Linda paying just $15,000 for him at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. he has now won 7 of 13 starts and banked over $1.56 million.

As High Chaparral goes from strength to strength, his booking sheet has been boosted by the inclusion of champion mare Circles Of Gold this year.

Coolmore welcomes High Chaparral back to its home base in the Hunter Valley this year. His Kiwi bred progeny passed every test with high-flyers Shoot Out, So You Think and Monaco Consul.

Frank Tagg and the Arch of Gold Syndicate have given High Chaparral their vote of approval with Circles Of Gold. The 18 year-old Marscay mare has three stud at stud – Elvstroem (Blue Gum), Haradasun (Coolmore) and Coubertin (Greta West).

High Chaparral finished second to Fastnet Rock in the Australian secondseason sires’ premiership last season, with 16 winners of $5.20 million.