Chautauqua pick of rivals
SOME punters have already written him off, but champion sprinter Chautauqua is the horse rival trainers rate as the one they have to beat in tomorrow’s $10 million The Everest at Royal Randwick.
Each stable with a runner in The Everest was asked for the one horse they fear most in the $10 million feature and Chautauqua secured a survey-high three votes from a possible 10.
Everest favourite She Will Reign’s trainer Gary Portelli has always looked up to Chautauqua’s co-trainer John Hawkes and knows that “The Grey Flash” will be spot on in tomorrow’s race.
“I know John Hawkes and he is probably my idol as a trainer, and I know how he can get horses to perform on the right day,” Portelli said.
“We’ve seen [Chautauqua] in Hong Kong do some crazy things and in the TJs, and if you’re counting the money with 50m to go you might be going off a bit early. I reckon he is the one to beat.”
Fell Swoop’s trainer Matt Dale agrees and feels a bit of rain tomorrow will only help Chautauqua’s chances.
“I think Chautauqua is going as good as ever and he just needs the sting out of the track and he is clearly the horse to beat,” Dale said.
Chautauqua ($5.50-$5) was backed into second favourite yesterday just behind She Will Reign at $4.80.
She Will Reign was a sec- ond most popular pick in the survey with two votes alongside Vega Magic and Redzel.
Peter Snowden (Redzel) and Ben Hayes (Redkirk Warrior, Vega Magic and Tulip) agree She Will Reign deserves to be favourite.
“She was pretty impressive in the Moir,” Hayes said.
“She has drawn a good barrier and will be right in the finish with the light weight.”
Gai Waterhouse, who will saddle up English in the big race, and Deploy’s trainer Gerald Ryan rate Redzel as the horse to beat to claim the $5.8 million first-prize cheque.
“I just think Redzel is racing in form and he is a very strong horse,” Waterhouse said.
Ryan said: “I had Redzel as a young horse and I always thought he had huge potential.
“My horse [Deploy] races the same way as him and he is a good, on-speed, tough, don’t know when to get beaten type of horse.”
Chautauqua’s co-trainer Michael Hawkes labelled English the one to beat despite the mare drawing the outside gate in the 12-horse field.
“She has always been thereabouts running with our bloke [Chautauqua],” Hawkes said.