Rupert Legh, the owner of world's top-rated sprinter Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) admitted that it was a “touch-and-go decision,” but ultimately ruled against a trip to Japan for the G1 Sprinters' S. Oct. 2, thereby passing on the opportunity of a US$1-million bonus for winning three legs of the Global Sprint Challenge in as many jurisdictions. Instead, the gray gelding will have a preparation at home in the Australian springtime geared towards a start in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 11.
“It's just the difficulty of the quarantine they've got here in Australia,” Legh told Racing Ahead on RSN 927. “Japan were terrific, they understood that we wanted to go direct and not via Hong Kong to Japan to race and we wanted to take a companion, which is important for any horses travelling.”
With Japan now off the radar, Chautauqua will be pointed for the G1 Moir S. (1000m, Moonee Valley Sept. 30), the G1 Manikato S. (1200m, Moonee Valley Oct. 22) and the G1 Darley Classic (1200m) up the Flemington straight six furlongs. All being well there after, it will be back to the site of his breathtaking victory in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize last May. Longer term, connections are keen to shoot for an unprecedented third win in the G1 T J Smith S. during The Championships next April.
“When you weigh it all up, it's not just about the spring, it's about the autumn so we don't want to muck up his autumn because John is desperately keen to have the horse attempt to win a third T J, which has never been done before,” Legh told RSN. “We would have spoken for a good hour yesterday on the positives and negatives of the whole thing, but ultimately it came down to what was in the best interests of the horse, not the owners.”
Legh added, “We want to see the horse be given every opportunity to continue down the path he's going and that is to run in Hong Kong in December and ultimately go to [Royal] Ascot.”
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