Promising gelding Chautauqua looks set for a profitable spring carnival after an emphatic first-up win in the Group Three Bobbie Lewis Quality.
Last season’s Hawkesbury Guineas winner resumed in Saturday’s 1200-metre sprint against a classy field and made the race a one-act affair to post a 2-1/2 length win over Group One winner Temple Of Boom with In Cahoots third.
While trainer John Hawkes was not getting carried away with the win, he admitted they have always had a good opinion of the son of Encosta De Lago.
“He should nearly be unbeaten as a younger horse. He needed time to mature and now he’s putting it together,” Hawkes said.
“He’s got a bright future.”
Chautauqua registered his third win from eights starts in his first race appearance since his Scone Guineas fifth-placing in May.
Jockey Dwayne Dunn was taken by his first-up performance.
“There’s been some horses that have gone to the top level in that race today,” Dunn said.
“There’s no doubt he should have won the Scone Guineas, and to come back and do that to that field today is a big plus.
“He will want further than what you have seen today, but if he can run that good there might be a nice little race for him (over the carnival).”
