Autumn plans changed for 'Shoot Out'

John Wallace’s stable star ‘Shoot Out’ has had a change of heart regarding the dual Group 1 winner’s upcoming campaign, deciding to resume this autumn in the T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 9.

Shoot Out will likely have two starts in Sydney during the autumn carnival over shorter trips before the four-year-olds campaign head’s north to Queensland.

Shoot Out's first Queensland run over the winter will be in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes run over 1800m at his home track on May 7, prior to a tilt at more Group 1 success in the Doomben Cup over 2020m a fortnight later.

The four-year-olds proposed campaign is the same path ‘Metal Bender’ took last season, when he claimed the Hollindale Stakes and Doomben Cup double.

In November, as reported on Talking Turf, trainer John Wallace stated a trip to Sydney over the autumn was unlikely after Shoot Out's lengthy spring campaign, suggesting that Shoot Out would have a lengthy break and be aimed at only the Queensland carnival.

Shoot Out is expected to have at least one trial prior to resuming however Wallace is unsure whether it will be in Sydney or Brisbane.

'Battlefield' euthanised after freak accident

Smart sprinter Battlefield has had to be euthanised after breaking a shoulder in an exhibition gallop yesterday at Scone.

Trained by Paul Messara, the lightly raced gelding was on the comeback trail and close to returning to the races.

Galloping in between races, he put a foot wrong on the corner and broke down, with rider Brett Marshall crashing heavily and breaking both his collarbone and a leg.

“It's been a terrible 24 hours”, Messara said.

“He'd had a couple of jumpouts at home and was there to have a nice gallop away from home. He was 100 per cent and just about ready to go",

“He was just cruising around, not running any time, but on the corner just put his foot in a hole at the wrong angle. He fractured a shoulder and unfortunately had to be euthanized".

The son of Choisir raced only seven times for five wins and just over $200,000 in prizemoney. Battlefield won his last four races, with the last being the Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton in July.

Roehill Gardens (05/02)

With todays Caulfield meeting being abandoned due to the heavy rain around Melbourne last night and today, Talkinturf has headed interstate, where a few short priced favourites and a few long shots should provide us with some play money for the weekend.

Race One
1.Helmet - 2.Head For The Stars - 7.Abound - 4.Moment To Remember

Race Two
4.Somepin Anypin - 5.Shootoff - 1.Fast Clip - 1.Startsmeup

Race Three
2.Storm Kite - 3.Viva Las - 10.Mishkish - 6.Grager

Race Four
9.Bandar - 2.Fusakeo - 3.Lone Command - 7.Our Cannavaro

Race Five
8.Triple Elegance - 12.Juvenlies - 2.Faulconbridge - 4.Strat's Flyer

Race Six
6.Centennial Park - 8.Hot Danish - 2.Love Conquers All - 4.Border Rebel

Race Seven
8.Ofcourseican - 7.Mighty Obvious - 4.Zaratone - 11.Just Been Lucky

Race Eight
4. American Crew - 3.Lucky Elmo - 8.Honest Lies - 7.Saint Encosta

Best Bet
Race 2 No 4 Somepin Anypin

Best Roughie
Race 4 No 9 Bandar

Quaddie
2,8,12/6,8/4,7,8,11/3,4,8
$50 for 69.4%

The 'Australian Turf Club' finalised

The merger between the Sydney Turf Club and the Australian Jockey Club has now been finalised, with the NSW Government today announcing the Australian Turf Club will officially start operating on Monday next week.

Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene announced this morning that the merger process between the Sydney Turf Club and the Australian Jockey Club had now been finalised.

“The creation of the Australian Turf Club Limited, NSW's new major racing club, is one of the most significant developments in the history of NSW racing”, Mr Greene said.

“We have completed an essential step to secure the ongoing viability of NSW racing”.

Mr Greene joined Chairman Elect John Cornish, CEO Elect Darren Pearce, Racing NSW Chief Executive Peter V'landys and Racing NSW Chairman Alan Brown at the announcement.

“Today is a day of celebration for our world-class racing industry and its 50,000 participants”, Mr Greene said.

“The NSW Government has secured a $174million funding package to renovate and revitalise Sydney's most iconic tracks, Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick, as part of this major racing reform",

“This is an important opportunity for the industry and NSW economy, which benefits from the $1billion racing brings to the State each year”.

Australian Turf Club chairperson John Cornish said the day celebrated a bringing together of a shared history of Sydney racing going back more than 200 years.

“I look forward to watching the continued rise of NSW racing and the Australian Turf Club for years to come”.

Blue Diamond third acceptances announced

63 horses are left to contest the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 26, following third acceptances.

The sponsers of the Blue Diamond have 11 runner left in contention, including unbeaten 'Pane In The Glass', the Inglis Classic winner who last week was named as an unlikely starter despite her outstanding six length win at Rosehill.

Impressive Blue Diamond Preview winners 'Sepoy' and 'One Last Dance' are also amongst the third acceptances, indicating a trip to Melbourne may still be on the cards for the scintillating filly.

Five-time Blue Diamond winning trainer David Hayes has the second highest number of two-year-olds remaining behind Patinack with eight, four of which are by champion sire 'Redoute's Choice'.

If either of the Preview winners, Sepoy and One Last Dance, can win either of the Preludes, they will be alive to win a $1 million bonus if they can complete the clean sweep by capturing the Blue Diamond.

The Blue Diamond Preludes will be run over 1100m at Caulfield on February 12.