Mysterious Mr Q buys more time for mind games with Chautauqua

Chautauqua will be given the chance to prove himself in another barrier trial as connections bid to save his racing career.

Racing NSW Stewards have considered submissions from several of the owners and an equine behaviour specialist who is working with the world’s former best sprinter in an effort to get him to jump out of the barrier stalls.

Chautauqa has refused to come out of the gates in six official trials including his latest on Saturday at Rosehill when he evenutally jumped out several lengths behind the field before unleashing a trademark burst to finish a nose second.

While not considering his effort as a refusal to jump, stewards said his slow start was not satisfactory.

The behaviourist, who wanted to remain anonymous and was referred to as Mr Q at yesterday’s hearing, said he believed the horse was heading in the right direction and would benefit from more time with him.

Stewards said they would allow Chautauqua to barrier trial again, but not before September 22.

He must trial on two consecutive occasions and show improvement on his performance on Saturday.

Redzel begins his defence of $13million The Everest in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Another confirmed Everest runner, Invincible Star, is second favourite at $2.40 for the group 3 sprint over 1000m.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, dual group 1 winner Redzel impressed taking out a 1000m trial at Rosehill last week and will have two runs before The Everest on October 13.

Invincible Star, from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, was given an even more testing hit-out in an 850m-trial on August 13 in which she beat Zousain by almost 10 lengths.

The mare has not raced since her head second to Merchant Navy in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in November.

Redzel won last year’s Concorde Stakes before winning The Shorts (1100m) on his way to the inaugural Everest in which he beat Vega Magic, who defends the group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The Lindsay Park-trained sprinter is the $2.70 top elect in all-in markets for the Memsie.
Vega Magic defeated the Darren Weir-trained pair of Black Heart Bart and Tosen Stardom in last year’s race before being freshened and going on to run second to Redzel in the inaugural running of The Everest at Randwick last October.

Kementari is $5.50 second pick ahead of Happy Clapper at $6.50. The $5 Caulfield Cup favourite Kings Will Dream is at $9.50.

Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and The Brisbane Times