Racing: Champ in making on song

Stathi Katsidis labelled Shoot Out a potential champion after he claimed his second Group One victory in the AJC Australian Derby at Randwick yesterday.

His win was also a triumph for trainer John Wallace who elected to push on to the Derby (2400m) and not bring Shoot Out back in distance to the Doncaster Mile (1600m) despite his shock defeat as favourite in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) last start.

Katsidis came to Sydney primarily to partner Military Rose and was dejected when she was unplaced as favourite in the Golden Slipper.

He admitted Shoot Out was his second-string carnival ride but the 3-year-old turned out to be his meal ticket.

Wallace trained his first winner 46 years ago and before this season his last Group One victory was with Mother Of Pearl in the 1982 Queensland Oaks.

He rated Shoot Out's Classic win as the highlight of his career and hoped the 3-year-old could develop into a Cups horse next spring.

The $15,000 yearling purchase ran down the Gai Waterhouse-trained Descarado and scored by 1 lengths with Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul showing a return to form for third another neck away.

Monaco Consul's trainer Mike Moroney said he would be set for the Queensland Derby.

Shuttle stallion High Chaparral, who has stood two seasons in New Zealand, sired the Derby trifecta.

- AAP