News

Chautauqua flies as Easter, Chairman's catalogues receive boosts

1st Apr 2017

Mighty sprinter Chautauqua won his third consecutive TJ Smith Stakes and sixth career Group 1 while a big week of Inglis Sales received multiple significant pedigree updates.

That’s the wrap of Day 1 of The Championships as the Sydney autumn carnival kicked into overdrive today.

The dams of three of the 10 Randwick winners – including Group 1 producer Flame Of Sydney – will be offered at Friday night’s Chairman’s Sale, while sire on fire Snitzel produced a Group 1 trifecta, just days before 44 of his progeny go through the Easter Sale ring.

But the day belonged to the world’s best sprinter Chautauqua, with a win that had to be seen to be believed.

Last at the top of the straight and still five lengths off the leaders at the 100m mark, Chautauqua was low-flying late to get up in the last stride in a breathtaking performance.

The win was the six-year-old’s 13th overall and took his career earnings to over $8million for his large group of connections and trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes.

“The horse has been fantastic. I saddled him, he was cool as a cucumber, he’s a rockstar,’’ Wayne Hawkes said.

“The 1200m at Randwick, he owns it, doesn’t he.’’

Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago x Lovely Jubly) is a graduate of the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Berkeley Park Stud.

This year’s Easter Sale, which begins this Tuesday (April 4) and runs for three days, received another significant boost following today’s Group 1 Inglis Sires at Randwick.

Arrowfield Stud’s super stallion Snitzel produced the trifecta of Invader, Summer Passage and Trapeze Artist, and there are 44 progeny of Snitzel catalogued for the 2017 Easter Yearling Sale.

Arrowfield boss John Messara was almost lost for words post-race.

“There's not much I can say - Snitzel and the winning post are doing all the talking that matters!’’ Messara said.

"I'm especially delighted for Invader's breeder Michael Pitt, and very proud of Snitzel and everyone at Arrowfield.

"Snitzel has an outstanding consignment of yearlings at Inglis Easter, we have a wonderful selection at Arrowfield and we look forward to presenting them next week."

To view the Easter Yearling Sale catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Invader’s dam Flame Of Sydney is one of three dams to produce Stakes-winners at Randwick today that are being offered for sale in Friday’s The Chairman’s Sale Session II (Elite Breeding Prospects).

Flame Of Sydney, Opalize (Property won the Group 3 Widden 150th anniversary Stakes) and Adonia Queen (Acatour won the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes) are all for sale at Friday’s Chairman’s Sale, which starts at 5pm.

Flame Of Sydney has produced five horses to race, three of which are winners, and two are Stakes winner (2010 foal Not Listenin’tome is a five-time Group winner in Australia and Hong Kong and is Group 1 placed).

She will be offered as Lot 51, in foal to Medaglia d’Oro.

Property’s dam Opalize will be offered as Lot 70, in foal to Newgate Farm’s freshman stallion Sizzling.

Property is the third foal of Opalize to race, of which two are winners.

Property is the star progeny at this stage, with Saturday’s victory taking his earnings to almost $350,000.

The victory was his third at Stakes level from just five career starts.

Property (Starcraft x Opalize) was a $130,000 Inglis Classic buy for Aquanita Racing from Amarina Farm.

And Acatour's dam Adonia Queen will be offered as Lot 41, in foal to Sebring, carrying a full relation to today’s Group 3 winner.

To view the catalogue for The Chairman’s Sale Session II (Elite Breeding Prospects), CLICK HERE.

CHAUTAUQUA (Encosta De Lago x Lovely Jubly)

Sale: 2012 Australian Easter Yearling Sale

Sale price: P/I$300,000

Vendor: Berkeley Park Stud

Buyer: N/A

Breeder: Woodbury Pty Ltd

Trainer: Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes

Owners: R & C Legh Racing (Mgrs: R & Mrs C Legh), G P I Racing (Mgr: G Ingham), Gurners Bloodstock (Mgr: M A Ramsden), G Pulitano, S W Kay, Ms M A Keating, Wright Racing (Mgrs: P & R Wright) & Throsby Racing Syndicate (Mgr: Ms E R S Throsby)

Group 1: TJ Smith Stakes (1200m)