Multiple Group 1 winner Chautauqua has returned to Team Hawkes’ stables at Rosehill ahead of a 2016 Spring Carnival campaign, to be geared towards the feature sprint races.
Champion sprinter Chautauqua has returned to Team Hawkes’ Rosehill stables ahead of the 2016 Spring Carnival. Photo: Steve Hart
Chautauqua has undoubtedly been the stable star for Team Hawkes throughout his entire racing career so far; posting twelve wins and a further eight minors through twenty-two starts, highlighted by five triumphs at the highest level.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes told Racing Victoria that the Encosta De Lago gelding will solely target racing in Melbourne this time, with a view towards a trip abroad for the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December.
“He has spent the past couple of weeks in pre-training and is now back at Rosehill,” Hawkes said.
“We will just give him a few days to settle in and then look to step his work up.
“We’ve got eight weeks until the Moir Stakes so there is no need to rush with him, we will just take our time and get him right.
“But in terms of how he has come back, everything is fine at this stage. He is bright and well and looks great so all is fine.
“He will start his preparation up here and then we will decide shortly when he heads to Melbourne.
“Again, we’ve got plenty of time up our sleeve so there isn’t any rush.”
Chautauqua broke through for his first Group 1 triumph in the 2015 edition of the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m); bobbing his head at the right time to beat Lord Of The Sky on the line.
Resuming last spring for consecutive wins in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) and Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m), Chautauqua won the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) with ease before ending his year second in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m).
Returning this year for success in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m), the gelding out of Lovely Jubly placed third in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) before successfully defending his crown in the TJ Smith Stakes; travelling to Hong Kong for an impressive win in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on May 1st.
