Chautauqua draws barrier 6 for Chairman’s Sprint at Sha Tin

ANALYSIS: IT was a case of two out of three ain’t bad for the Australian trio of horses racing in two world class Group 1 races at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Chautauqua works on the turf track at Sha Tin this week.

IT was a case of two out of three ain’t bad for the trio of horses racing in two world class Group 1 races at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Chautauqua and Buffering, which will compete in the Chairman’s Sprint (1200m), both drew perfectly but the John O’Shea-trained Bow Creek drew awkwardly in barrier 11 in the Champion’s Mile (1600m).

The world’s highest-rated sprinter, Chautauqua, drew barrier six, while Buffering plans to be taken straight to the front from barrier three.

Trainer Michael Hawkes said it didn’t really matter where Chautauqua drew as he would get back in the field and attempt to snatch the race over the last 600m where he’ll have to overhaul horses like Buffering and other likely frontrunners including America horse Mongolian Saturday and the local brigade led by Peniaphobia.

“It doesn’t matter where he draws as long as he has the right run and it depends on the speed around him and that’s probably going to be the key factor,” Hawkes said

“It depends how the race is run but he doesn’t have to be dead-set last, but it’s about getting the horse to relax where he is happy.

“We will be competitive whatever the outcome.”

Australian sprint stars Chautauqua (left) and Buffering at Sha Tin racetrack.

Buffering’s trainer Robert Heathcote didn’t have any influence on what barrier he drew after he was the last of the 14 connections to draw a barrier, with only number three remaining.

“It was hoping for barrier four, but got three,” Heathcote joked.

“It’s a perfect draw and I wanted three, four or five. He can be momentarily slow away, even though has jumped well in his past four or five runs.

“Those outside us should not be able to cross us with his speed, so we’ll find the rail and go to the front.”

Heathcote said it was not only a perfect draw because of where Buffering had drawn but because where the other horses had drawn.

O’Shea arrived at Sha Tin on Thursday morning to watch Bow Creek, which will be ridden by Australia’s Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton, perform impressively on the grass track.

Bow Creek was the unlucky one of the Australian trio, drawing wide in barrier 11 for the Champion’s Mile.

James McDonald will fly into Hong Kong to ride Godolphin’s other runner in the Champion’s Mile, Safety Check, for Charlie Appleby, in race that features Japan’s Horse of the Year, Maurice.

O’Shea said he was hoping for an inside barer for the former European Bow Creek which had his last run when he finished fifth, ridden by McDonald, in the Doncaster Mile on a soft track at Randwick on April 2.

“It would have been nice to have drawn a little bit softer, but he is a horse that is slow away so as long as we can get to the best part of the track,” he said.

“We need dry ground.

“The most important thing is that the horse is good and his work was outstanding.”

O’Shea said McDonald had already been booked to ride Safety Check before Bow Creek received an invitation to the race.

CHAIRMAN’S SPRINT

1200m, Group 1, $2.4 million

Sha Tin, Sunday 5.30pm

1. CHAUTAUQUA 6 M W & J Hawkes, T Berry, 57kg $2.25

2. AEROVELOCITY 14 P O’Sullivan, Z Purton, 57kg $9

3. GOLD-FUN 5 R Gibson, O Peslier, 57kg $9

4. PENIAPHOBIA 8 T Cruz, M Chadwick, 57kg $13

5. BUFFERING 3 R Heathcote, D Browne, 57kg $6.50

6. NOT LISTENIN’TOME 12 J Moore, J McDonald, 57kg $17

7. LUCKY BUBBLES 1 F Lui, B Prebble, 57kg $9

8. MONGOLIAN SATURDAY 2 G Enebish, D Whyte, 57kg $26

9. CHARLES THE GREAT 7 J Moore, G Mosse, 57kg $101

10. SUPER JOCKEY 13 T Millard, K Teetan, 57kg $151

11. AMAZING KIDS 4 J Size, N Rawiller, 57kg $21

12. THEWIZARDOFOZ 9 J Size, J Moreira, 57kg $11

13. STRATHMORE 11 T Millard, N Callan, 57kg $101

14. DIVINE BOY 10 M Tsui, D Leung, 57kg $101

Odds: CrownBet

Chautauqua wins the Gilgai Stakes on Turnbull Stakes Day in 2014. Picture: Getty Images

THE SPEED

Buffering, Peniaphobia and Aerovelocity are expected to vie for the lead with Lucky Bubbles, Not Listenin’tome and Mongolian Saturday stalking the speed. Chautauqua will settle in his customary position at the back, poised to unleash over the last 200m. The track tends to favour on-pacers. Buffering is drawn perfectly.

THE FACTORS

Track: Good 4

Rail: Out 4.5m

Forecast: Possible shower, 28C

THE SKINNY

CHAUTAUQUA

Attempting to justify world No. 1 sprint ranking. Has settled in well in Hong Kong. The ground, firm or shifting, will not matter but his chances depend on a solid tempo. Capable of breathtaking sectionals.

AEROVELOCITY

Hong Kong’s champion sprinter after a sensational win in January’s Centenary Sprint Cup over today’s course and distance. Has started in three Group 1 sprints and won all three. Has recovered from a colic attack last month and will be prominent for a long way.

GOLD-FUN

Classy miler-turned sprinter who won this race last year. Six starts over today’s track and distance for two wins and four seconds. Likely to settle midfield and will be strong late.

PENIAPHOBIA

Led all the way to win the Longines Sprint over this course in December and chased Buffering when third in last month’s Al Quoz in Dubai. Tough to topple on his home track.

BUFFERING

Queensland marvel racing in career-best form. Has contested a remarkable 32 Group 1s, for seven wins. Has thrived since arriving from Dubai after an inspiring Al Quoz win. Will be hard to run down from a perfect gate.

NOT LISTENIN’TOME

Has James McDonald on and John Moore’s polish and will appreciate any cut in the ground. Struggled from a wide gate in Dubai. Needs to improve. Formerly trained in Australia by John Hawkes.

LUCKY BUBBLES

Five wins from 10 starts at Sha Tin and will relish the expected hot pace. Capable of blistering sectionals. Brett Prebble rides.

MONGOLIAN SATURDAY

US raider who won Breeders’ Cup turf sprint. Trainer abandoned Al Quoz tilt after horse succumbed to travel sickness. Seven wins from 32 starts. Handles all surfaces.

CHARLES THE GREAT

Backmarker in moderate form this preparation.

SUPER JOCKEY

Runner-up in last year’s Golden Shaheen in Dubai. Suffered a leg injury in that race this year.

AMAZING KIDS

Emerging star who was second in the Sprint Cup to Aerovelocity. Talented swooper with four wins over course and distance.

THEWIZARDOFOZ

Another rising talent. Perfect record in three tries over the course and distance. Will storm home late.

STRATHMORE

First attempt at Group 1 level. Untapped.

DIVINE BOY

Five straight defeats after three successive wins in lower classes. Needs to lift.

DARYL TIMMS SELECTS

1. Chautauqua

2. Buffering

3. Peniaphobia

4. Thewizardofoz

Buffering works on the turf course at Sha Tin on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied