Chautauqua confirmed his position as the best sprinter in the world today, completing back-to-back wins of the Group 1 ATC TJ Smith Stakes over 1200m at Royal Randwick.

In a similar performance to his 2015 TJ Smith win, Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago x Lovely Jubly) came from a seemingly impossible position at the back of the field, only to swoop ahead from the 100m mark and hit the line beautifully.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes confirmed he has been confident the gelding could win the race for a second time, saying “we always aimed this horse at this race, we wanted to go back to back.”

“He just does extraordinary things. The older this horse has got the better he has got and that just doesn’t happen, it’s crazy really,” Hawkes added.
Hawkes Racing’s careful management of Chautauqua meant he missed a trip to Hong Kong last year, however competing abroad may still be on the cards for him, as indicated by jockey Tommy Berry.

“If we take him overseas we are going to have a ride aren’t we? He’s just a machine!” said Berry.

Races on the possible itinerary for Chautauqua include the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong next month.

Chautauqua was bred by Edwina Throsby’s Woodbury Pty Ltd, before failing to reach his $400,000 reserve when offered from Berkeley Park Stud at the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Today’s win took his earnings soaring past $5.5 million for owners R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, G P I Racing, Gurners Bloodstock Co, Mr G Pulitano, Mr S W Kay, Ms M A Keating, Wright Racing and Throsby Racing.

Today was Chautauqua’s fourth win at Group 1 level and he joins the elite alongside only Black Caviar as horses to win two editions of the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes.