Racing ‘royalty' steps out

– It was just before dawn at Rosehill yesterday and racing royalty was on track with super sprinter Chautauqua completing an impressive gallop only moments before the mighty mare Winx whizzed along the course proper.

Together these two champions have won 36 races, 18 at Group 1 level for collective earnings of more than $21 million prizemoney. The point was not lost on Chautauqua’s co-trainer, Michael Hawkes.

“To have two world-class horses racing at the same time in Australia is fantastic,’’ Hawkes said.

“Winx is the best turf horse in the world, probably the best horse, and Chautauqua has been the world’s highest-rated sprinter for a while now.

“I look at Winx at trackwork and think ‘wow’ what a tremendous race mare she is.

"I’m sure Chris (Waller) looks at Chautauqua and thinks the same thing.

"She is a freak and so is he. Australian racing is very lucky to have two such great horses competing at the same time and they are both racing on Saturday - you couldn’t ask for anything better.”

At Royal Randwick tomorrow, race fans can get to see both champions compete under race conditions, Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) and Chautauqua in the Group 2 $200,000 The Shorts (1100m).

“I still have to pinch myself that Chautauqua is in our stable - it is a bit surreal at times,’’ Hawkes admitted. “– The Daily Telegraph.