News

Chautauqua Blazes In Manikato

23rd Oct 2015

Inglis Easter graduate Chautauqua cemented his place in history overnight delivering an absolutely phenomenal victory in the $1 million Group 1 MVRC Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley over 1200m ahead of Srikandi and Rebel Dane.

After taking a moment to get his stride, Chautauqua (Encosta de Lago x Lovely Jubly) found himself last in the field at the 700m.

Jockey Tommy Berry proved he was the ultimate professional by guiding his charge calmly but definitely around the field and sprinting to the front to win by two lengths, saluting his late brother Nathan as he crossed the line in an emotional finish.

The win was the son of Encosta De Lago’s second Group 1 victory, taking his earnings past $3.2 million for a large group of owners, R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, G P I Racing, Gurners Bloodstock Co, Mr G Pulitano, Mr S W Kay, Ms M A Keating, Wright Racing, Throsby Racing.

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes didn’t elude to feeling concern during the run, saying "They certainly made him earn it but that's what you expect when you're the hot-pot."

"When he came to the corner and pushed out it was a fantastic feeling that's for sure! It's easy to stand here and gloat after the race but everyone knows he's good and the only times he's been beaten, to be fair, have been bad luck," said Hawkes.

“To win a Group 1 tonight, he’s the best horse we’ve got,” Hawkes said.

Plans for the gelding to contest the VRC Stakes before the Hong Kong Sprint in December were in place prior to the win, but suggestions of runs further afield came to light from Hawkes, who said “He’ll go to Flemington (on Emirates Stakes Day), then we’ll see how he pulls up. We’re taking it one race at a time. Then, you never know, we might go and meet the Queen.”

Despite jockey Tommy Berry’s obvious track credentials, this is the first Melbourne Spring Carnival Group 1 win for the 23 year old, who was granted the ride in place of Dwayne Dunn.

“It’s unbelievable – my first Group 1 in Melbourne, the only place I hadn’t got one. I gave Dwayne a call before I got on the flight today and he gave me more information than I needed to know, and he told me about the horse inside-out. I’ve obviously ridden him before but never in Melbourne. Thank you, Dwayne, I appreciate it so much,” said Berry.

Bred by Edwina Throsby’s Woodbury Pty Ltd in the Upper Hunter Valley, Chautauqua was the result of a service fee to Encosta de Lago that was purchased at a Victorian Bushfire Appeal in 2009. Edwina utilised the charity auction purchase for her multiple Group 1 winning mare Lovely Jubly, which subsequently gave birth to a grey colt at Neale Bruce’s Berkeley Park Stud on 20 September 2010. Edwina commented “the circumstances were fitting that the resulting progeny created a fire in Chautauqua,”

“The mare hadn’t had much luck with some really promising progeny, so I guess the charitable aspect of the mating gave us the good karma we needed,” added Bruce.

Chautauqua was reserved at $400,000 at the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale when offered from the draft of Berkeley Park Stud. The five-year-old has now won nine and placed in six of his 17 career starts including all three of his runs this preparation, with no signs of stopping ahead of raids on Hong Kong and Royal Ascot.