Chautauqua unleashes amazing finishing burst to win TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick

IT took Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes to put some perspective on Chautauqua’s freakish win in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.

Chautauqua ridden by Tommy Berry, wins race 8 the TJ Smith Stakes during Day 1 of the Championships at Royal Randwick. pic Jenny Evans

IT took Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes to put some perspective on Chautauqua’s freakish win.

“He is the best sprinter we’ve ever had and his acceleration is the equal of Lonhro,’’ Hawkes said. There can be no higher praise.

Chautauqua produced a sprint win for the ages when he came from last to win the Group 1 $2.5 million Darley T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Two lengths last at the 600m, Chautauqua was chasing 14 of the best sprinters in the southern hemisphere. Hawkes wasn’t worried — at any stage.

“He is a horse that you have to ride quietly early and then you can see what he can do.

“When he is relaxed in his races, nothing out-sprints him.

“Our Boy Malachi is a very good horse and he has gone great today to run fourth but horses like Chautauqua and Lonhro — they are elite horses, they are in another league.’’

The Team Hawkes-trained Chautauqua ($3.60) produced a finishing sprint that had to be seen to be believed. He finished so fast he put a one-and-quarter lengths margins on placegetters Fell Swoop ($15) and English ($9).

Favourite Exosphere ($2.70)was never really in the race and laboured to finish 11th,

Chautauqua’s win capped an incredible day for Tommy Berry. He also won the ATC Australian Derby on Tavago and the Country Championships Final with Clearly Innocent.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be where I am at the moment. There’s a few times people have doubted me, whether I’ve gone off the boil, stuff like that so to show up on a big day like today and get the winners on the board, I’m so happy,’’ Berry said.

“They wrote Chautauqua off a little bit this week, too, but John (Hawkes) gave me confident instructions.

Tommy Berry was all smiles after Chautauqua’s stunning win. Picture: Jenny Evans

“He said the first half of the race, forget about the race and just ride him quietly and then from the 600m wake him up. He’s just a machine. It’s not that initial part when he takes off but sort of halfway down the straight he lets go and you’re like am I going to get them? And then that last 100m Jesus he goes!”

Chautauqua scored his 11th win from 21 starts, his fourth at Group 1 level and became the first to win successive T.J. Smith Stakes. He took his career earnings soaring past $5 million.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said Chautauqua will now take on the world in the Chairman’s Sprint at Hong Kong next month and then the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at England’s famous Royal Ascot in June.

“He just does extraordinary things. I was actually watching our other horse (Our Boy Malachi), he was in front and gave a good kick and I knew the grey was out the back,’’ he said.

“But he just does stupid things this horse, it’s ridiculous to reel off the sort of sectionals that he does. The older this horse has got the better he has got and that just doesn’t happen, it’s crazy really.

“We always aimed this horse at this race, we wanted to go back to back. We’re going to Hong Kong and hopefully we get there, and if we win in Hong Kong we’ll look at England. He’s no guarantee to go to England but we’re definitely going to Hong Kong .’’

Tommy Berry and Michael Hawkes share a laugh at Randwick. Picture: Jenny Evans