TRAINER John Wallace is far from downcast about Shoot Out's Cox Plate prospects despite an on-face-value failure at the weekend.

Shoot Out struggled to match the acceleration of Whobegotyou and Typhoon Tracy when placed behind the pair, beaten a total of three lengths, in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

But Wallace can find plenty of positives from the performance and is looking forward to a re-match with the pair in the Cox Plate on October 23.

"The inside section was lengths slower. Look at the results all day. The outside runners had a huge advantage," Wallace said.

"I thought Shoot Out ran a tremendous race under the circumstances. And he's going to be better suited by going up to the longer distances for the rest of his spring.

"The good news is he has come through the race in great order."

Shoot Out will not start again for three weeks when he will tackle the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.

Wallace confirmed Stathi Katsidis who has come under criticism for his past two rides on Shoot Out would be staying on the four-year-old in the Turnbull.

The Gold Coast trainer wasn't the only one who rated the inside section at The Valley as a "no-go zone".

Typhoon Tracy's trainer Peter Moody agreed Shoot Out was i the slowest section of the track.

Moody also is adamant the Cox Plate is not a two horse war betwee ... [Read More]