Aussie Invasion for Chairman's Sprint Prize

Not since Falvelon (Aus) won the second of his two G1 Hong Kong Sprints in 2001 has any Australian-trained short-tracker been able to make any inroads in any major sprint at Sha Tin. But in Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}), there appears to be serious thunder from Down Under in Sunday's G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize.

Chautauqua, the world's current top-rates sprinter on the most recent Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, was penciled in for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint late last year, but was ruled not to be 100% and ultimately remained at home. Late-running winner of the G1 Lightning S. up the Flemington straight Feb. 20, he could do no better than third when forced to give weight in the G1 Newmarket H. three weeks later. The popular grey makes his first overseas trip off a stunning defence of his title in the G1 T J Smith S. at The Championships Apr. 2 at Randwick in which he trailed into the lane, then came with an explosive late rally to win by a widening margin.

“I'm certainly not going out there with the plan to just drop back to last and circle the field,” said his jockey Tommy Berry. “Early, we won't be any closer than he wants to be, but I'll be tactically more aware than just thinking we hook out wide. He's not shy inside horses and came through between horses when he won the [G1] Manikato [S. last October].”

Buffering, fifth to the favorite in the Manikato, arrives in Hong Kong in arguably career form, having won his last three. After annexing the G1 Winterbottom S. in Perth for a second time last December, he posted a popular victory over home turf in the Magic Millions Plate at the Gold Coast in January and most recently led throughout to take the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Mar. 26, defeating Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) into third.

The latter overcame the 14 hole to defeat Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) in last year's Hong Kong Sprint and was third to the comebacking Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in the Centenary Sprint Cup Jan. 31 ahead of his Dubai effort. Trainer Tony Cruz said that jockey Matt Chadwick will be under instructions to try to make the lead from gate eight, but will likely have to go hard to cross and clear the likes of Buffering and Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday). Aerovelocity, the 2014 Hong Kong Sprint hero, will likely also be ridden for speed as he tries to overcome the 14 hole.

The Chairman's also features a pair of up-and-comers in the local sprint ranks. Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) is the surprising second choice overnight on the strength of wins in a Class 1 Mar. 20 followed by a two-length defeat of Amazing Kids (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) in the Apr. 3 Sprint Cup. Joao Moreira rode Peniaphobia to the win in December, but he has selected Thewizardofoz (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). The bay is three-for-three over the course and distance, though he has raced at 1400 metres and beyond this season. He was most recently the 1 1/2-length winner of the seven-furlong Chinese New Year Cup H. Feb. 10.