Chautauqua has shown why he is ranked the best sprinter in the world, becoming the first Australian horse to win a Group One race in Hong Kong.
Against the pattern of the day’s racing, Chautauqua came from last at the top of the straight to win the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Chautauqua
Ridden by Tommy Berry in a similar style to his win in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick last month, Chautauqua thundered to the line to beat Lucky Bubbles by a neck.
He is now scheduled to go to next month’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“What did we just see,” Berry said.
“I can’t believe he did what he did.
“I’ve never been in a sprint race where they’ve gone that quick.”
Trained by the family partnership of Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, Chautauqua will collect a $US1 million ($A1.31 million) if he can win the Diamond Jubilee.
The bonus is offered to any horse that can win three legs of the Global Sprint Series in three different jurisdictions with Chautauqua taking out two so far – the Lightning Stakes and the Chairman’s Sprint.
The news was not so good for Australia’s other representative in the Sprint with Buffering weakening after leading to finish last.
Early reports were that the Al Quoz Sprint winner was showing lameness in his off fore fetlock.
Japanese star Maurice was an emphatic winner of the other Group One race on Sunday’s program, the Champions Mile.
