Racing New South Wales will conduct a special barrier trial in between races at Rosehill on Saturday, August 25, to allow banned sprinter Chautauqua to pass one of his two required barrier tests.
Chautauqua, above, will barrier trial in between races at Rosehill’s Saturday meeting. Photo by Steve Hart.
Chautauqua has been barred from racing after he failed to leave the starting gates six times in barrier trials and Racing New South Wales Stewards have considered submissions from the grey flash’s managing part owner Rupert Legh to have another chance to gain his barrier certificate.
Stewards have agreed to arrange a 1000m barrier trial in between races three and four at the Rosehill meeting this weekend and will take nominations for the special eight horse trial on Wednesday.
The six times Group 1 winner will have to jump successfully from the barriers on two successive occasions before his ban is lifted and is able to compete again.
The Racing New South Wales released the following statement outlining the conditions that have been placed on the Team Hawkes trained star sprinter.
“After giving consideration to the submissions, the Stewards have permitted Chautauqua to barrier trial in an open raceday barrier trial to be conducted at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 25 August 2018, on the following conditions;
- Chautauqua be required to barrier trial to the satisfaction of the Stewards in two consecutive official barrier trials prior to being given permission to race again, and
- Should the gelding refuse to jump from the barriers in any of those official barrier trials, then Racing NSW Stewards would refuse the nominations of the gelding from barrier trials and races under the provisions of AR50.
“In allowing Chautauqua to barrier trial again, the Stewards were mindful of the submissions made by connections and were encouraged by the gelding satisfactorily jumping from the barriers in numerous jump outs.
“In addition, the Stewards were conscious of providing every opportunity to the connections of Chautauqua to enable the gelding to return to racing and are satisfied on the available evidence that recent failures to begin from the barriers are related to behavioural issues and not a veterinary condition that is causing the gelding to remain in the barriers.
“The barrier trial will be conducted over 1000m between races 3 and 4 and nominations will close at 1pm on Wednesday, 22 August 2018. The field will be restricted to eight runners to be determined by Racing NSW.”
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 if he fails to leave the barriers to the satisfaction of the stewards, his racing days will be over.
Chautauqua is the winner of thirteen races from thirty-two starts, six at Group 1 level, and has earned a tick over $8.8 million in prizemoney.
