Top Australian sprinter Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), who was on Wednesday considered a 90% chance for the Dec. 13 G1 Hong Kong Sprint by the Hawkes training team, was removed from consideration for the race Thursday after suffering a minor joint injury in trackwork, according to Racing.com.
“It become apparent when he cooled down after trackwork this morning that he had tweaked one of his joints in front,” Michael Hawkes, who co-trains the 5-year-old gelding with brother Wayne and father John, told Racing.com. “The injury is not a major problem, it is more a wear-and-tear type, but it means that he would not be 100% fit for Hong Kong.”
“It is what it is; it is much better to have happened now rather than after you had arrived over there,” Hawkes added.
Chautauqua, who scored his maiden Group 1 win in the G1 TJ Smith S. at The Championships in April, added the G1 Manikato S. Oct. 23 before finishing a short-head second in the G1 Darley Classic Nov. 7. Hawkes said a title defense of Chautauqua's most important win could be in the cards.
“He will have a nice break now and then come back into work for the autumn features,” Hawkes said. “Obviously, we would love to target the TJ Smith S. with him again.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.