Chautauqua left standing in the gate
Chautauqua left
standing in the gate for a third time
From Deane Cummings: March 2018
The recent reluctance of champion thoroughbred Chautauqua
to leave the barrier is certainly perplexing his Rosehill-based
training triumvirate of Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes.
We would suggest that the Hawkes employ the most
effective horse psychology known to man, except that
Chautauqua is a gelding, so luring him with an attractive
filly or mare would seem destined to failure.
Chautauqua
is currently under a stewards' suspension for refusing
to jump. The most recent incident was in a trial at
Rosehill, which came right on the heels of two missed
trial jumps at Randwick last week.
The "Grey Flash," as the seven-year-old sprinter
by Encosta De Lago x Lovely Jubly is affectionately
known, has an impressive pedigree full of champions
of the track and the breeding sheds. He has won 13
times and placed on another 11 occasions.
His last win was the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200
m) in April of 2017 and he won that race in 2016 and
2015, but his participation in this year's race on
April 7 is very much in doubt until he can satisfy
the stewards that he does not pose a danger to himself
or any others than could be harmed in the barriers,
or on the course.
If there were anything close to bearing a resemblance
to a positive aspect for the Hawkes and the ownership
group, it would be that six of Chautauqua's wins were
at the Group 1 level and he has won almost $9 million
dollars - Bookie
Free Bonus Bets.
In other words, this is not some high-priced foal
from the Inglis or Magic Millions bloodstock sale
that never got out of the barn, such as Black Caviar's
first foal, Oscietra, who has yet to justify her price.
The Hawkes are targeting the Group 1 William Reid
Stakes (1200 m) at Moonee Valley on March 24, but
as could well be imagined, there is more than a little
concern over Chautauqua's unwillingness to leave the
gate.
Prior to the recent three failures to launch, he
did trial successfully at Warwick Farm in mid-February,
where he ran third to Vellor and Peacock, but his
previous four races did not produce any placings.
He took part in the first running of The Everest,
but he finished fourth to Redzel, Vega Magic and Brave
Smash.
It could be the case that Chautauqua has decided,
on his own, without consulting the Hawkes, that racing
no longer appeals to him and this is his way of communicating
that fact.
Some thoroughbreds have strong connections to their
riders. It is possible that Chautauqua would like
to have Dwayne Dunn back in the irons, but Brenton
Avdulla is no mere apprentice, even though he is new
to Chautauqua and the reluctance to jump issue arose
when Avdulla took over. Dunn was on for the majority
of Chautauqua's running, but Tommy Berry was steering
for all three T J Smith Stakes wins.
That is mainly idle speculation, however, and it
is certainly something of which the Hawkes would be
cognizant.
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