Dream still alive as Chautauqua passes first hurdle

TEAM Hawkes is daring to dream again with Chautauqua after the mercurial grey cleared a significant hurdle in a potential return to racing after successfully jumping away in a Flemington jump-out.

But, as relieved and pleased as John and Wayne Hawkes were after the former world champion sprinter’s improved barrier manners in an 800m trial, there was a sobering note of caution.

“There’s no point in putting the cart ahead of the horse, especially with this bloke,” Wayne Hawkes said.

“Now that he’s ticked the first box, we need to go and speak to the stewards about what our options are.

“There’s a few big bridges to jump yet.

Hawkes noticed a “remarkable difference in Chautauqua’s attitude after the six-time Group 1 winner returned to Flemington this week.

“He was not switched on but more focused, I suppose,” Hawkes said. “In truth, he wasn’t out to have a hard jump-out.

“It wasn’t about his fastness . . . it was about the first five seconds.”

Banned after failing to jump with the field in a string of trials, Chautauqua’s future now rests in the hands of Racing Victoria stewards.

Jockey Tommy Berry said the “Grey Flash” was a “neck slow” out of the gates before finishing a restrained last in the four-horse trial.

After settling at the tail of the field, Berry did not push out Chautauqua in a trial won by Runson.

“It was great that he jumped,” Hawkes said. “There’s been a lot of hard work in the last month from everyone in Sydney, so I’m just the recipient of all their good work.”

Chautauqua still needs to leave the barriers cleanly at an official barrier trial to have his ban lifted. Chautauqua hasn’t raced since finishing fourth to Redzel in the Darley Classic at Flemington in November.