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Waller lends horses for special trial to save Chautauqua's career
Chris Waller will supply five of the seven horses to line up against Chautauqua in a special barrier trial at Rosehill where the sprinter will try to save his racing career.
After failing to jump six times in official trials, Chautauqua must leave the gates with the field otherwise he will be barred by Racing NSW stewards.
If he passes the test on Saturday, the Hawkes Racing-trained Chautauqua has to repeat the exercise in another trial to be considered fit to race.
The 1000m-trial between races at Rosehill was approved by stewards on Tuesday after they considered submissions from connections including managing owner Rupert Legh after Chautauqua performed satisfactorily in several recent jump- outs.
The world's former highest-rated sprinter, Chautauqua has not raced since his fourth in the Darley Classic in November.
Chautauqua's Waller-trained opponents on Saturday are Lean Mean Machine, Sambro, The Autumn Sun, Youngstar and Zousain with the field completed by the Ron Quinton-trained Dixie Blossoms and Godolphin's Tally.
After considering submissions from connections represented by Rupert Legh, Racing NSW stewards will give him the chance on Saturday between races.
The submissions were:
The gelding has been placed under the care of a well-respected thoroughbred behaviourist and has responded well to his methods.
The Stewards have received evidence of Chautauqua on 16, 17, 20 and 21 August 2018 completing a number of jump-outs conducted at Rosehill whereby he jumped satisfactory on all occasions, including before Australian Turf Club starter Dale Jeffs on Tuesday morning.
An application was made to allow Chautauqua to compete in an official barrier trial to be conducted between races at Rosehill on Saturday to simulate race day conditions.
Stewards will allow Chautauqua to run in the barrier trial under two conditions:
Chautauqua will be required to barrier trial to the satisfaction of the stewards in two consecutive official barrier trials prior to being given permission to race again.
Should the gelding refuse to jump from the barriers in any of those official barrier trials, then Racing NSW stewards would refuse the nominations of the gelding from barrier trials and races under the provisions of Australian Rule 50.
In allowing Chautauqua to trial again, stewards said they were mindful of the submissions made by connections and encouraged by the gelding satisfactorily jumping from the barriers in numerous jump-outs.
They said they were conscious of providing every opportunity to the connections of Chautauqua to enable the gelding to return to racing and are satisfied on the available evidence his recent failures to begin from the barriers are related to behavioural issues and not a veterinary condition.
Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and The Brisbane Times
