Last year’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) winner Chautauqua will be out to recapture his best form, and his first win since last year’s Hong Kong victory, when he contests Saturday’s G1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
The Group 1 sprint is one of six races being simulcast from the Randwick program which also features three other races at the highest level - The Doncaster Mile, Australian Derby and ATC Sires’ Produce.
Chautauqua has placed in his three starts in 2017 and Saturday’s race looks his most suitable assignment thus far this year given his liking for racing at 1200 metres, right handed. He has won his past three starts under those circumstances - Saturday’s race in each of the past two years plus his major win at Sha Tin.
The distinctive grey gelding has been nominated again for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize while six horses, who have been nominated for either the G1 Champions Mile and/or the G1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (2000m), will contest the G1 Doncaster Mile. They are Le Romain, former Hong Kong gallopers Redkirk Warrior and Dibayani along with Palentino, Hauraki and McCreery.
Le Romain and Chautauqua, who were respectively beaten 7.3 and 8.6 lengths behind Winx in the G1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on 18 March, have been marked as early favourites for Saturday’s Doncaster Mile and T J Smith Stakes.
“Coming back to 1200m and the prospect of better than heavy ground will suit the horse,” said co-trainer Wayne Hawkes who prepares Chautauqua in partnership with his father John and brother Michael.
Chautauqua raced beyond 1400 metres for the first time when third to the all-conquering Winx in the 1500 metres George Ryder Stakes after which jockey Tommy Berry said: “The race was over and done with by the time he warmed up. I think he will be better back to sprint trips as well."
Le Romain, who had won his first two starts this year before competing against Winx, drew perfectly in gate 8 for the Doncaster Mile with Hugh Bowman to take the ride.
However, it was a mixed bag for Godolphin trainer John O’Shea who saddles up three Doncaster runners. His top weight Hauraki (James Doyle) drew 16 while the last start winners It’s Somewhat and Spectroscope came up with barriers 9 and 22 respectively. The latter draw might demand some ‘magic’ from Joao Moreira who flies in to ride. Zac Purton takes the mount on It’s Somewhat.
Moreira has rides in each of the four Group 1 races and will be keen to add to his tally of three winners on Australian soil in 2017.