Chris Waller has slated the Group Two Expressway Stakes as the autumn launching pad for new recruit Shoot Out.
The dual Group One winner made his first public appearance since being transferred from the John Wallace stable in a 900m Rosehill barrier trial on Thursday.
Ridden by Hugh Bowman, he impressed his new boss by finishing second to the Team Hawkes-trained Nordstrom.
“Excellent. I couldn’t have been happier,” Waller said.
“There’s a long way to go but that’s the first part out of the way.”
Shoot Out hasn’t raced since last year’s winter carnival in Brisbane where his best effort was a second to Glass Harmonium in the Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) in June.
He hasn’t won a race since the 2010 JJ Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield 18 months ago.
Shoot Out was one of two high-profile triallists for Waller along with Group One performer Danleigh who finished sixth in the same heat.
He is also scheduled to resume in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 11.
Waller was also taken by the trial win of unraced filly Forever Crazy, one of the Ingham family’s band of gallopers.
“She is coming right at the right time of year,” Waller said.
Forever Crazy clocked the fastest time of the 900m heats and is on track to make her debut in the coming weeks.
AAP TURF
