Chautauqua One Step Closer To Return

The dashing grey Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta De Lago {Aus}) took a further step towards a return to competitive action when taking part in a barrier trial at Rosehill on Monday (video). Partnered by Brenton Avdulla, the 7-year-old took a keen hold towards the rear of the 1020m contest and swung wide into the straight. Avdulla never really asked his mount a question, as Chautauqua ambled home fifth of the seven starters, three lengths behind the Group 3 winner Trapeze Artist (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}). Chautauqua is expected to make his next racecourse start in The Shorts over 1100m at Randwick on Sept. 16.

Last year's G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Catchy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will take on males on her next start in the G2 Danehill S. at Flemington also on Sept. 16. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained filly made a perfectly satisfactory start to the season when second to Crown Witness (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) in the G3 Quezette S. at Caulfield Aug. 19 and her trainer is waiting to see how she gets on against the opposite sex on her next start before deciding whether to aim at the G1 Caulfield Guineas or the G1 Thousand Guineas which take place the same day next month. There is a A$1.5m prize-money difference between the two contests with the colts race the more valuable.

David Hayes commented, “She's going to have her next start in the Danehill on the 16th. She'll be really hard to beat and if she beats them, I'd say we'll go for the boys [race]. And if she doesn't we'll go conservative and go against the girls.”