Three times T J Smith Stakes winner Chautauqua won’t be able to defend his title after being officially withdrawn from the weight for age $2.5m Group 1 sprint over 1200m at Randwick on day one of The Championships on April 7.
Chautauqua, above, has been officially withdraw from the 2018 T J Smith Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Team Hawkes trained Chautauqua unleashed his scintillating finish to win the last three runnings of the T J Smith Stakes but his 2018 Autumn Carnival campaign was over before it began after the grey flash has refused to leave the barriers in four recent barrier trial appearances.
Chautauqua had been ordered by the Racing New South Wales stewards that he had to successfully complete two barrier trials before being allowed to return to the race track after refusing to jump with the field in three barrier trials in Sydney at Randwick and Rosehill.
The Hawkes Racing Team then sent Chautauqua to their Melbourne base at Flemington to get him cleared for racing but the seven year old grey remained in the barriers when the rest of the field left the starting gates in the 800m Cranbourne trial today.
The following statement was released by Racing New South Wales, officially declaring Chautauqua is out of the T J Smith Stakes.
“Please be advised that in accordance with AR63, Chautauqua has been withdrawn from the Darley TJ Smith Stakes to be conducted at Royal Randwick during Day 1 of The Championships on 7 April 2018.”
“AR 63. The nominator of a horse for a Group Race, Listed Race or Restricted Listed Race which is to be run within the next 30 days who decides that his horse will not start in such race shall withdraw the horse from the race concerned immediately after that decision is made.”
Chautauqua hasn’t raced since finishing fourth to Redzel in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the last day of the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival and is the winner of thirteen of his thirty-two race starts, including six at Group 1 level, and has earned $8,821,935 in prizemoney.
Chautauqua had been listed as an $11 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au to defend his T J Smith Stakes title before being removed from the betting.
The Team Snowden trained Redzel is currently the $2.40 favourite for the T J Smith Stakes and the nearest to The Everest winner in the betting is the Ben Smith trained In Her Time at $7 and Lindsay Park’s Vega Magic at $8.
Early betting for the 2018 T J Smith Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.40 Redzel, $7 In Her Time, $8 Vega Magic, $13 English, $15 Viridine, $17 Trapeze Artist, She Will Reign, $21 Jungle Edge, $26 Clearly Innocent, Hey Doc, $34 Global Glamour, Secret Agenda, Supido, $41 or better the rest.
