Chautauqua’s career doubts
CHAUTAUQUA’S glittering career is almost certainly over after the quirky star failed a pivotal barrier trial at The Valley last night.
Needing to jump with the field to secure clearance from Racing Victoria stewards to resume his stalled career, the moody grey stood motionless when the barriers opened.
His failure to leave the machines means the “Grey Flash” has run his last race after earning more than $8 million and winning six Group 1s.
Jockey Tommy Berry was shattered as he returned to the mounting yard as six rivals completed the trial.
“Gutted mate, to be honest, to be trotting around the gates, he didn’t give me much of a feel, he wasn’t re- ally interested,” Berry said after the trial.
Co- trainer Wayne Hawkes was rueful but unsurprised after the former world’s No. 1 sprinter refused to jump.
“The bottom line is he is what he is, what do you do?” Hawkes said.
“And guess what, he doesn’t want to do it any more. He’s too good for us. It didn’t surprise me.
“It’s disappointing he didn’t jump but he’s been one of the greatest of the great.”
Chautauqua was back at The Valley for the first time since his controversial prerace scratching last spring.
Many believe the sprinter’s aversion to stepping with the field from the gates stemmed from his scratching last year.
Team Hawkes hoped Chautauqua had cured his barrier blues after last week, when he started cleanly in a low- key Flemington trial.
But, watched by a large crowd at the traditional AFL grand final- eve meeting, Chautauqua was up to his old tricks.
Since last starting in the Darley Classic almost a year ago, the mercurial speedster has now failed in seven different trials or jumpouts.
Chautauqua needed to jump away cleanly in successive trials to secure a clearance to race again.
Until his latest mishap, he was under consideration for the 12th and final slot in the $ 13 million The Everest ( 1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 13.
Those plans are doomed — and his career is over. At best, he will be spelled before Team Hawkes again tries to cure his manners, but there is probably no way back.