Trials and tribulations: Winx shines but Chautauqua's woes continue

Winx did what she does at the Rosehill barrier trials on Tuesday and unfortunately so did Chautauqua, who continued his habit of not jumping from the stalls.

Hugh Bowman and Chris Waller believe Winx is on track for a return in the group 1 race named in her honour at Randwick on August 18.

Winx was impressive running into third behind Godolphin's two-time group 1 winner Alizee and will shoot for a 26th straight victory, which would surpass Black Caviar's record.

If Chautauqua is to return to the races, his connections will have to make a case at a stewards inquiry as to why his nomination should be accepted after he refused to jump from the barriers for the sixth time.

Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel wants to hear from connections, who indicated they would push on with the Grey Flash, before making a decision on whether the eight-year-old Chautauqua would be allowed another official barrier trial.

The five-time group 1 winner did eventually walk from the barriers 500m behind the field on Tuesday and showed he still had a zest for racing by completing the 900m course, albeit more than 90 lengths from the winner.

“That is a little step forward, that he came out – but on his own terms,” managing owner Rupert Legh said. “We are not going to retire him just yet.

“We will have a chat with John Hawkes, because we would love to see him back at the races.

“I don’t think anyone could imagine how much work has gone into Chautauqua from the Hawkes stable to get him to jump from the barriers since this began.” Legh has spoken to renowned horse whisperer Monty Roberts, who has said he is available to the stable if they want his help, but that was a decision for Hawkes.

“There is no one with more experience or better equipped in Australia than John Hawkes and his boys to try and get into Chautauqua’s head,” Legh said.

“I have spoken to Monty, and he told me he has worked with 170 horses that have refused to jump from the barriers, so Chautauqua is not a unique case.

“And he has got 170 back to the races. If John wants his number, it is there for him, but I wouldn’t tell John Hawkes what to do with any horse.”

Team Hawkes had put plenty of barrier work into Chautauqua since he refused to leave the gates last month and were confident he would spring from the gates as he had in practice.

“I’m lost for words and I don’t know what to say any more,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. “It’s frustrating because we know the horse is 110 per cent. We have had the highs with him and now we are having the lows.

“We want to see back at the races because he is as well as ever. It is up to the owners what they want to do now.”

Jockey Tommy Berry said Chautauqua still gives him goosebumps and he thought he was going to jump on Tuesday.

“He went to jump this morning. He put all his weight forward and then sucked back under me. Even all the barriers boys thought he was going to go,” Berry said.

“Once I relaxed on him he went out and I let work around because the public haven’t seen him for a long time.

“Obviously there is a lot of concern from people that he is not well. I thought I'd give a little show of how well he is.

“It is disappointing. It is heartbreaking.”

The feeling from the Winx camp was at the other end of the spectrum after she worked through the field on the bridle in her trial.

“She felt as good as she looked,” Bowman said. “I haven’t seen the replay yet but I’m sure it looked pretty good.

“I would suggest that’s as good as she’s ever trialled, honestly. She ready to go to the races now.”

Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and The Brisbane Times