Trainer John Hawkes not thinking about The Everest for Chautauqua
HALL of Fame trainer John Hawkes says his sole focus with champion sprinter Chautauqua is his next barrier trial and he hasn’t given any consideration to a start in The Everest.
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HALL of Fame trainer John Hawkes says his sole focus with champion sprinter Chautauqua is his next barrier trial and he hasn’t given any consideration to a start in the $13 million The TAB Everest.
Chautauqua will contest a barrier trial between races at the Moir Stakes meeting at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
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The “grey flash” needs to jump from the barriers to the satisfaction of stewards before he is cleared to race again.
There is mounting speculation that slot-holders Max Whitby and Neil Werrett will select Chautauqua and complete the 12-horse Everest field if he jumps cleanly on Friday.
Chautauqua has been elevated to $17 with TAB Fixed Odds for The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.
But Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his sons Wayne and Michael, said he was only concentrating on Chautauqua’s barrier trial.
“I’m not even thinking about races for Chautauqua. I’m only worried about Friday night,’’ he said.
“We are hoping he jumps but what will be, will be. We have done a lot of work with the horse so it’s up to him now.
“He is going well on the track, we are happy with his work, but it all comes down to this trial.’’
Chautauqua was barred from racing by Racing NSW stewards this year when he developed a habit for refusing to jump out of the barriers.
Then last month he left the barriers in a trial at Rosehill, albeit many lengths behind the field, and stewards said he needed to jump clearly in two more trials before he would be considered to race again.
Chautauqua passed the first test in an 800m jumpout at Flemington last Friday and the Moonee Valley Racing Club has organised a 1000m trial for this Friday night.