Chautauqua has produced an incredible late effort to make up substantial ground and take out the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in an exciting photo finishing this afternoon.
Chautauqua (outside) held off a luckless Terravista (inside) and smart three-year-old Japonisme (centre) to win the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes in a blanket finish at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Jumping from the gates well, Chautauqua strode forward and was settled on the outside of the track behind Japonisme, Terravista and Delectation who set a reasonable tempo.
Appearing down and out with only 300m to run, the Encosta De Lago gelding immediately responded when asked for an extra effort; producing a monumental effort to hit the line a nose in the clear of Terravista; Japonisme maintaining for a credible third.
Dwayne Dunn delivered an incredibly well-timed ride on Chautauqua to win the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and laid all the praise on the quality of the now three-time Group 1 winner.
“He’s a good horse,” Dunn said.
“What about the turn of foot late and his endeavour to hit the line.
“John gave me great confidence before the race to go out the back and keep him away and on his own.
“The best horses were on the outside so I thought I’d go that way.
“John said listen, ride him like the Valley (Manikato Stakes) and if you’re going to win he’s going to get them in the last 50m. You’ve got the horse underneath you and if he gets beaten that way then so be it.
“He spelled really well and missing Hong Kong has probably been a blessing in disguise.”
Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes was thrilled with Chautauqua’s performance in the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes but revealed a decision is yet to be made on the horse’s next point of call.
“At the 200m when he put one around his backside it wasn’t the great feeling,” Hawkes said.
“It’s easy to say it now but today was going to be his most vulnerable day, you’re soft and underdone and there’s a long, long way to go.
“He spelled the best he’s ever spelled and he only had four weeks out but he just came back a man mountain.
“What he did to mow those super horses down, that was one hell of an effort.
“He might go and have a freshen-up at the water walker tomorrow for a few days, we’ve done that before.
“One thing we didn’t want to do was run him in a Newmarket first-up because a horse hasn’t run the Newmarket for 100 years first-up.
“To nail this was great.”
In winning the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, Chautauqua has extended his record to an impressive ten wins and seven minors through only nineteen career starts.
2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | CHAUTAUQUA | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | – | 2 | 58.5kg | $2.80F |
| 2 | 2 | TERRAVISTA | Joseph Pride | Damien Oliver | 0.1L | 5 | 58.5kg | $6.50 |
| 3 | 6 | JAPONISME | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 0.2L | 4 | 55.5kg | $7 |
| 4 | 5 | EXOSPHERE | John O’Shea | James McDonald | 1.7L | 1 | 55.5kg | $3.10 |
| 5 | 3 | DELECTATION | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | 2L | 6 | 58.5kg | $11 |
| 6 | 4 | VA PENSIERO | Jason Coyle | Craig Newitt | 8L | 3 | 58.5kg | $41 |
