Currently experiencing his longest-ever losing streak, having gone winless since victory in Hong Kong's G1 Chairman's Sprint in Hong Kong four starts back, Hawkes Racing's Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) is stepping beyond 1200 metres for the first time since a third to Horse of the Year Dissident (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in the 2015 G1 All Aged S. The class runner of Saturday's G1 Canterbury BMW Stakes (1300m) field, Chautauqua has two Group 1 victories at the track, but in the small field of eight runners, Tommy Berry will need to be at his best to ensure the gallant grey gets back to winning form.
Last start winners Le Romain (Aus) (Hard Spun) and Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) are bound to improve from their first-up stakes victories, and with wins at the track as well as in heavy conditions, the Group 1-winning pair are bound to prove more than competitive.
The weight-for-age scale sees the two 3-year-olds carry three kilos less than the rest of the field, and having his first start for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable is the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}).
Beaten once from six starts, the former Stephen Marsh-trained runner is now trained on the track and with a solid fifth behind Group 1 winner English (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and a seven-length victory at his two trials leading into the race, the three-time stakes winner could be the surprise package.
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