Six times Group 1 winner Chautauqua will be given one more chance to prove himself at the barriers after Racing NSW Stewards extended his ban from racing.
Chautauqua, above, has to pass two barrier tests before getting the all clear to return to the races. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Team Hawkes were hoping that Chautauqua would jump from the barriers with the rest of the field in a trial at Rosehill on Monday so he could regain his barrier certificate and head back to the race track and possibly secure a slot in the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.
That result didn’t eventuate as the grey flash stood flat footed in the barriers as the remainder of the field took off for their 900m trial and the seven year old has to successfully pass two barrier tests in front of stewards before being allowed to head back to the races.
Racing NSW stewards also said in a statement yesterday that if Chautauqua refuses to jump away again any nomination for him in the future could be rejected.
“Racing NSW Stewards have determined that Chautauqua must barrier trial satisfactorily on two consecutive occasions prior to being permitted to race again,” the statement read.
“Mr Hawkes (John) was advised that should Chautauqua fail to jump again, consideration may be given to whether the nominations of the gelding are accepted.”
Wayne Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and brother Michael, said that Chautauqua’s refusal to jump is not a physical thing, but a mental one.
“He’s not hurting, he’s not sore,” Wayne Hawkes told racing.com.
“At the end of the day, he’s not sore, there’s nothing wrong with him except between his ears, other than Mr Ed, I don’t know any other horses that can talk, but I don’t know if I want Chautauqua to talk because he confuses us now.”
Hawkes admits that The Everest at the moment is out of contention with the team’s main priority is to get Chautauqua passed at the barriers and back to the race track.
“Right now, to be honest The Everest isn’t actually on the table,” he said.
“I can’t say he won’t be in The Everest and he’s not going to run, but right now he’s got an embargo against him, so we’re back to the drawing board.
“You know what, I still love him.
“Six Group 1s, he’s given the owners $8m, he’s given my family the greatest thrills, so I love him to bits.”
Chautauqua is the winner of thirteen of his thirty-two race starts with six wins at Group 1 level and has earned a tick over $8.8 million in prizemoney.
