Team Hawkes’ triple TJ Smith Stakes champion and early favourite for The Everest 2017 race in Sydney next month, Chautauqua had an easy Rosehill trial ahead of his spring return on Monday morning.
The Everest favourite Chautauqua, above, had an easy trial at Rosehill today. Photo by Steve Hart.
The now seven-year-old son of Encosta De Lago has now trialled twice since making history with his third consecutive win in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick back on April 1.
In his first hit-out of the season at Warwick Farm on August 25 he ran third behind Single Bullet (1st) and Golden Slipper Stakes winning filly She Will Reign (3rd).
On Monday jockey Brenton Avdulla was in the saddle again, giving the galloper an easy time for a fifth over 1020m finishing two lengths off the heat winner Trapeze Artist.
Avdulla was pleased with what Chautauqua showed him leading up to the $8.3 million earner’s first-up run at Randwick on September 16 in the Group 2 $200,000 The Shorts (1100m).
“He trialled nicely enough, just did as much as he was asked,” Avdulla, who is yet to partner the ‘Grey Flash’ on race day, told Racing NSW.
“His attitude is good, he stepped well, he obviously got back and travelled quite comfortably and finished his work off.
“It’s a nice little stepping stone for the program they have for him.”
Chautauqua has secured a spot in the $10 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick a month after his first-up run on George Main Stakes Day, filling the slot held by his part-owner Greg Ingham’s GPI Racing in the October 14 event.
It will be a mouth-watering day for race fans when Chautauqua resumes, the race card also featuring Winx shooting for her 20th consecutive win in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m).
To date Chautauqua has enjoyed six Group 1 victories including the Chairman’s Sprint (1200m) overseas in Hong Kong.
Based on his outstanding sprint form and gun record over 1200m at Randwick, the bookmakers have him as the $4.80 favourite in pre-field The Everest odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
He is now followed closely in those futures The Everest betting markets by the Lindsay Park-trained Memsie Stakes winner Vega Magic ($5) who is in line to fill the slot for The Star.
To back Chautauqua next race and for all the top early top-level Sydney spring racing odds head to our number one recommended bookmaker Ladbrokes.com.au today.
