Racing: Wallace confident of Cox Plate victory

Trainer John Wallace. Photo / Getty Images

Gold Coast trainer John Wallace declared Shoot Out would win the Cox Plate, and added he wouldn't run in the Melbourne Cup unless he thought he could win it, too, after his victory in the JJ Liston Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

The race was robbed of an early-season clash between stars Shoot Out and Cox Plate winner So You Think when the Bart Cummings stable scratched him on Saturday morning because of the wet track.

So You Think is now scheduled to resume in the Group Two Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 28, a race also earmarked for Shoot Out and glamour mare Typhoon Tracy.

The heavy (8) track was upgraded to a slow (7) after the second race and Shoot Out ($3 fav) revelled in it.

Despite racing six deep coming to the home turn, the 4-year-old, with regular race rider Stathi Katsidis in the saddle, got up to beat last year's winner Predatory Pricer ($7) by a long head with Heart Of Dreams ($6) 2 lengths away third.

Shoot Out became the third horse to complete the group three Bletchingly Stakes (1200m)-group two Liston Stakes double, emulating Super Elegant (2003) and Apache Cat (2007).

"He's a good horse. I was thinking 'how wide can this bloke get', but he [Katsidis] knew what he was doing, he's just a good racehorse. He loves to win and I'm so proud of him," Wallace said.

"This horse will only get better so I'm telling you - look out.

"He's nowhere near it yet, I've just been playing around with him. He might find it harder next time to beat Typhoon Tracy at 1400m but after that look out when he goes a bit further.

"He'll win the Cox Plate and we'll see about it [the Melbourne Cup], but he won't run unless I think he can, I promise you that.

"He's a great horse and I'm so lucky to have him and I just hope he keeps getting better."

Wallace, who admitted he was concerned about Shoot Out being so wide, later said he had great faith in Katsidis who has now won four races on the High Chaparral gelding including the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and the AJC Australian Derby (2400m).

Wallace shrugged off suggestions that Shoot Out was up too early in the spring and supporting him is the fact that three horses have gone on to complete the Liston-Cox Plate double: Tobin Bronze (1966), Tauto (1971) and So Called (1978).

Sydeston (1990) is the only horse to complete the Liston-Caulfield Cup double but no Liston winner has gone on to win the Melbourne Cup.

Mick Price was happy with the returns of Predatory Pricer, having his first start for the stable after wrenching a joint in the Caulfield Cup last spring, and Heart Of Dreams while the Danny O'Brien-trained Vigor was an encouraging fourth.

Putting in a real eye-catching effort for fifth was rank outsider Zavite, while Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul battled on well for sixth ahead of Shocking who came from last on the turn to finish seventh.

- AAP