For the third time in nine days, champion sprinter Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) refused to jump from the barriers during a trial on Thursday at Rosehill. Chautauqua was given two chances to trial at Randwick on Feb. 27 and stayed in the gates both times. The 7-year-old gelding has now been banned from racing in Sydney until he completes two successful barrier trials. Co-owner Rupert Legh told Racing.com Chautauqua would be sent to Melbourne to trial next Friday.
“He will get a change of environment, he will probably be on a truck today or tomorrow to Melbourne and have a jump out next Friday at Flemington. Hopefully fingers crossed it is one of those incidents we can get out of his head quickly. We don't want him to develop bad habits.”
“If he doesn't jump next Friday, then it would be to the paddock, give him a good freshen up and start again,” Legh added.
Chautauqua is being targeted at a fourth straight G1 TJ Smith S. at The Championships at Randwick on Apr. 7.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
