Dual Group 1-winning sprinter Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) bested a pair of confirmed runners for next Saturday's G1 Lightning S. in a Flemington jumpout Friday, but the 5-year-old gelding's status for that prized sprint is still hanging in the balance, co-trainer Wayne Hawkes told Racing.com.
“You need to let the dust settle to see whether he's going to run in the Lightning or not,” Hawkes said shortly after Chautauqua bested his G1 Darley Classic conqueror Delectation (Aus) (Shamardal) by a head, with G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Japonisme (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) back in third in the three-horse 800 metre test (video). “He did everything right but it's not really about what opposition he had there, it's about doing it within yourself. He's come back great and done really well and had a good spell.”
All three Group 1 winners will be making their first starts since the Melbourne Cup Carnival and Japonisme's trainer Chris Waller told Racing.com of the jumpout, “They stayed together–it was just nice, controlled work for all three horses. Obviously we all know Chautauqua, and Delectation is a pretty handy horse. We've just got to make sure [Japonisme] is a consistent Group 1 horse now. He was probably beaten a half to three-quarters of a length [in the jumpout]; I guess you'd expect that, but he'll race in the Lightning with a bit of weight relief.”
Also expected for the Golden Rose are Group 1 winners Exosphere (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) and Terravista (Aus) (Captain Rio {GB}).
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