Multiple Group 1 winner Chautauqua lives to fight another day after successfully leaving the barriers with the rest of the field in a Flemington jump out this morning.
Chautauqua, above, successfully left the barriers in a jump out at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
Chautauqua has been barred from competing in races until he rectifies his barrier manners than has seen the grey refuse to leave the starting gates with the rest of field on seven occasions, resulting in Racing New South Wales Stewards enforcing strict conditions before a new barrier certificate can be granted.
Racing New South Wales Stewards had informed connections that Chautauqua had to successfully jump from the barriers in an official jump out or barrier trial on two occasions to the stewards’ satisfaction before being allowed to race again.
The Team Hawkes trained Chautauqua failed to jump in a specially convened barrier trial in between races at Rosehill on August 25 but was able to get one foot back in the door when he left the barriers cleanly at Flemington today.
Regular rider Tommy Berry was in the saddle again today and was relieved that the 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.
