Barrier rouge Chautauqua is back on track to regain his barrier certificate after leaving the starting gates cleanly and on par with the other three runners in a jump out at Flemington this morning.
Chautauqua, above, jumps cleanly in a Flemington jump out. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Team Hawkes trained Chautauqua has to complete two official jump outs or barrier trials and jump from the starting gates with the rest of the field and after getting a pass mark today will now be sent back to the barriers in the near future to do it again and get his barrier certificate reinstated.
Racing New South Wales Stewards had informed connections that Chautauqua had to successfully jump from the barriers in an official jump out or barrier to the stewards’ satisfaction on two occasions before being allowed to race again after he stood in the barriers for the seventh time at a specially convened barrier trial in between races at Rosehill on August 25.
The grey flash wasn’t the first to leave the barriers today but still jumped cleanly as soon as the gates opened and successfully took part in the jump out.
Regular rider Tommy Berry was in the saddle again today and was relieved that the eight year old grey jumped on par with the other three horses in his heat.
“He’s come out slower than that on race day, that’s for sure,” Berry said.
“He jumped like he normally would and had an easy time out the back.
“We weren’t out there to break any records.”
Chautauqua will now have to pass another barrier test before being given his barrier certificate that will allow him to continue his brilliant career that has seen him collect Group 1 wins in Australia and in Hong Kong.
Chautauqua is the winner of thirteen of his thirty-two race starts, which includes six at Group 1 level and has earned in excess of $8.8 million in prizemoney.
Chautauqua always had his backer’s hearts in their mouths with his come from behind flying finish which typically saw him come from last to gain victory in the last few strides.
The eight year’s flying finish saw him win three consecutive Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and he also beat a classy field of international sprinters in Hong Kong with his trademark last to first finish in the 2016 Group 1 HK$10,000,000 The Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin.
