3 minute read

Encosta De Lago sprinter Chautauqua showed why he could be the next big international winner for Australia with his explosive first-up win at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Having his first start at Moonee Valley today the outstanding grey recorded a dazzling victory in the G2 Ian McEwen Stakes over 1000m.

The win has put Chautauqua (Encosta de Lago x Lovely Jubly by Lion Hunter) on track for the major G1 spring sprints in Melbourne before he heads overseas for the G1 Hong Kong Sprint in December.

“He was the best horse. In the end it was a bit of barrier trial,” said co-trainer Wayne Hawkes after the win.

“We need good horses on the racetrack, it’s what people come to see and he’s a good horse.”

The Group 2 victory was the seventh in 15 starts for Chautauqua and took his earnings past $2.5 million, a return well ahead of his reserve price when passed in for $400,000 as a yearling.

Six of his wins have been at Group level including the G1 TJ Smith and three at G2 level.

Chautauqua is one of six winners from the dual G1 winner Lovely Jubly, her other foals including the G3 winner London Lolly (Charge Forward).

Lovely Jubly’s half brother Sir Howard (Alannon) won eight times including the G2 Highview Stud Trophy at Ellerslie.

• CASINOI Prince stallion Hooked boosted his own stud prospects with his second Group 2 win at Randwick on Saturday in the Tramway Stakes.

Hooked (Casino Prince x Absolute Lure by Lure) was an unlucky third in last year’s G1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick and is being set for another shot at the race on October 3.

The Tramway was his third win at Group level following wins in the G3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle and G2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley

“He’s better this time in and we’re going to have a crack,” said trainer John Thompson. “He can take the next step and is up to that class.”

Bred by the now defunct Patinack Farm, Hooked was purchased for $600,000 by Ultra Thoroughbreds at the Patinack dispersal in 2014.

Now the winner of $793,000, the 5YO Hooked (Casino Prince x Absolute Lure by Lure) was bred by Serene Lodge and is one of nine stakes winners by Casino Prince.

He is a brother to the stakes placed Casino Card (Casino Prince) and a half brother to two other winners from Absolute Lure, a half sister to G3 winner Fire In The Night (Danewin).

Absolute Lure has a yearling brother to Hooked and was covered by I Am Invincible last spring.