Moonee Valley push for champ
THE Moonee Valley club wants to provide enigmatic champion Chautauqua with a racing lifeline.
The club will invite the Grey Flash to run in the Moir and Manikato Stakes this spring if it can convince Racing Victoria to allow him to race.
Michael Browell, chief executive of Moonee Valley Racing Club, said last night it was important racing gave one of its biggest drawcards every chance to resume his career.
Browell spoke at length yesterday with Victorian racing officials, Chautauqua’s senior part-owner Rupert Legh and co-trainer Wayne Hawkes, detailing his plans.
It had appeared the eightyear-old’s racing days were over after he again refused to jump from the barriers at a special trial at Rosehill on Saturday, before catching the field and finishing second.
But after a plea from the horse’s owners yesterday, Racing NSW stewards chose not to confirm a life ban, instead providing a slight reprieve, with strict conditions.
“We just didn’t want to see a lifetime ban for the horse,” Browell said. “We did advise the connections of Chautauqua that if (he wasn’t banned) we would consider allowing him to run at the Valley.
“He lives to fight another day. Whether he turns up in a Moir Stakes and/or a Manikato Stakes remains to be seen, but we wanted to make sure we weren’t going to rob the spring carnival of one of its shining lights.”
Browell was unsure how Racing NSW’s findings would affect the Valley’s plans – Chautauqua is not permitted to trial in NSW until September 22 and must trial twice to the satisfaction of stewards – but he planned to speak with Victorian officials this week.
“Our understanding is that these ruling relate to NSW racing, and if connections want to consider running at Moonee Valley, we need to determine what the Victorian view is on this,” he said.
“We will have a chat to Racing Victoria and determine their position.”
Once rated the world’s best sprinter, Chautauqua has won six Group 1 races and earned more than $8.8 million.