Grey Flash chasing heftier pile of cash
CHAUTAUQUA can smash through the $9 million prizemoney barrier and move into the top five all-time stakes earners if he can return to winning form in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley tonight.
The Grey Flash has been unplaced in all three Sydney starts this spring including his closing fourth in Redzel’s The Everest last start but trainer John Hawkes maintains the sprinter just needs luck in running to show he is still a sprinting force.
Hawkes said the barrier draw, which has Chautauqua coming out of gate 10, and the rail placement in the true position should work in the champion sprinter’s favour.
“Chautauqua is better off drawing out than drawing in,’’ Hawkes said.
“He gets back anyway but the barrier is good because he will have galloping room. ‘The rail in the true position helps, too.
“The horse hasn’t had much luck in Sydney this spring but with a backmarker like him, that can happen. The main thing is he is fit and well.’’
Chautauqua is racing for his seventh Group 1 win, which would take the gelding’s career earnings to more than $9.37 million, moving him past So You Think ($8.8 million) into fifth on the all-time list.
Winx was set to take her prizemoney to more than $15.57 million if she won the Cox Plate tomorrow, breaking the all-time record held by Makybe Diva at $14.52 million.
Chautauqua was at $7 with UBET Fixed Odds for the Manikato Stakes last night behind $2.20 favourite Vega Magic and In Her Time ($5.50).
Caulfield Cup-winning trainer David Hayes was confident Vega Magic could continue his stable’s big-race winning momentum in the Manikato Stakes.
“I was recently talking to Gary Willetts who used to ride the great Manikato and he came up to me and said ‘He (Vega Magic) is a dead ringer for him’,’’ Hayes said.
Hayes said Vega Magic had thrived since his luckless second to Redzel in The Everest two weeks ago, with the trainer confident he would handle the tight Moonee Valley track.