Chautauqua Last to First in T.J. Smith
Description:
Terravista edged the world's top-rated sprinter Lankan Rupee for favoritism in the AUS$2.5mil T. J. Smith Stakes (Aus-I) but both were upstaged by Chautauqua, who overtook lightly regarded Lord Of The Sky in the final stride to win April 6 at Royal Randwick.
Ridden by Tommy Berry for the training team of Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, Chautauqua appeared from seemingly nowhere to score by a nose after Lord Of The Sky looked the winner 150 meters from the finish.
Chautauqua completed the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) contest in 1:11.04 while earning an automatic starting berth in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. I) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
The T. J. Smith, part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, was one of four group I races on Day 1 of The Championships, which was rescheduled to Monday after officials canceled the April 4 program because of inclement weather. One race later on Monday's card, Kermadec qualified for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) with his win in the Star Doncaster Mile (Aus-I).
Rain Affair jumped straight into the lead in the T. J. Smith, and Lankan Rupee and Tiger Tees went with him, while Lord Of The Sky lurked not far behind. But no could match the devastating kick of Chautauqua, who struck for the win from last in the 10-horse field to deny Lord Of The Sky.
Terravista finished third, about two lengths behind the winner, and Lankan Rupee, Australia's Horse of the Year of 2013/14, was ninth.
Multiple group winner Chautauqua is owned by a partnership that includes Greg Ingham, son of the late Jack Ingham of Woodlands Stud fame whose runners included such Australian stars as Octagonal, Lonhro, Strategic, and Commands. The T. J. Smith triumph was his first at the top level and improved his record to 6-5-0 from 13 career starts.
A 4-year-old Encosta de Lago gelding, Chautauqua was bred in Australia by Woodbury Ltd. His dam is multiple Australian group I winner Lovely Jubly, by Lion Hunter.