Chautauqua Runs Fast Sectionals Times In Amazing TJ Smith Stakes Win
The now six-year-old, settled at the tail of the 15-horse field as expected, angled between runners on straightening before Tommy Berry switched him deep and into clear running at the 200 metres, where he was still conceding the leader about ten lengths.
Chautauqua then came with a powerful finish to overwhelm the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare English (Encosta De Lago) in the last few strides, who had looked ‘home and hosed’, by a short neck.
In what was his sixth success at Group One level, it was Chautauqua’s first win since a similar brilliant late-finishing victory in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr 1, 1200m) at Sha Tin in May 2016.
There had been considerable speculation that Chautauqua was well past his best having not won again for almost 12 months, but as featured in this column recently, his most recent sectional times had suggested that the brilliant grey was far from a spent force…and so it was proved on Saturday.
Racing on a Randwick track that has taken considerable rain over the past fortnight, an examination of the breakdown of his times on Saturday, revealed that he ran his last 1000 metres in 57.76 – simply outstanding on the Heavy 8 track.
Clocked from the 1000 metre point, Chautauqua’s 200 metre sections were: 11.22, 11.49 (400m in 22.71) 11.47 (600m in 34.81), 11.63 (800m in 45.81) and 11.95 (1000m in 57.76).
Chautauqua has now raced 28 times for 13 wins and 11 placings for prize money earnings of $8,309,243 as he now heads towards the $10,000,000 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in October.
The runner up, English ran a great race, only being beaten in the last few strides.
English, a quality mare and winner of the 2016 All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick, was clocked to run her final 1000 metres in 58.80 after working just off the pace to the home turn and dashing clear in the straight, in an excellent performance.
The third-placed Fell Swoop (Not A Single Doubt) also staged an excellent effort after being pressured in the lead, where he was timed a fast mid-race section (from the 1000m to the 200m) of 45.96.
In the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) the Godolphin-raced import It’s Somewhat (Dynaformer) put up a strong front-running effort on the Heavy 8 track and then fought back gamely to defeat last year’s runner up Happy Clapper (Teofilo) by a half-length in a time of 1:39.17.
Adding merit to It’s Somewhat’s win was the fact that the pace was stronger in the early stages and he still had the stamina and talent to lift well and score after running 61.65 (12.33 200m rate) for the first 1000 metres while the last 600 metre clocked 37.52 (12.50 200m rate).
It’s Somewhat was timed (from the 1400 metres to the 200 metres) sections of 23.54, 36.00, 48.14, 60.37 and 1:12.51 – smart fractions on the Heavy 8 track.
In the ATC Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) there was a lacking of a tempo to come anywhere near the genuine pace of the Doncaster Mile.
The leader, the Gerald Ryan-trained Harper’s Choice (Street Cry) was able to set a mundane tempo, even considering the heavy conditions, which saw him clock 2:00.68 for the first 1800 metres of the race, a pedestrian 200 metre rate of 13.40.
The pace picked up from the 600 metres, as a number of runners made their bids, which resulted in the final 600 metres clocking 37.50, which is a much quicker 200 metre rate of 12.50, making it difficult for runners too far back in the field to make ground.
That was confirmed by the fact that first and second being the first pair into the straight, with Jon Snow (Iffraaj) winning by three quarters of a length from Harper’s Choice.
While the third-placed Hardham (Redoute’s Choice), considering the pace, therefore put up a good effort in making ground from fifth at the 600 metres and he clocked the quickest time of 37.05 for that section while Jon Snow ran 37.11 and Harper’s Choice 37.41.
The tactics of the race played against the favourite Gingernuts (Iffraaj), who was back in eighth place and after going wide nearing the home turn, he made ground without looking dangerous to finish fifth, clocking 37.44 for his final 600 metres.
In the Inglis Sires’ (registered as ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes) (Gr 1, 1400m) the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt Invader (Snitzel) did well in coming from back in eighth place to defeat the leader Summer Passage (Snitzel) by three quarters of a length after appreciating a solid early tempo.
The leader, the New Zealand-trained colt Summer Passage had run along at a good tempo and was timed (from the 1200 metres to the 200 metres) to cover that 1000 metre section in 60.60, which meant that he did really well in fighting back for second.
Meanwhile, Invader had settled well in eighth spot on the rails before Hugh Bowman angled deeper and into clear running on straightening. He then finished too well to score after clocking smart mid-race sectionals.
Timed from the 1200 metre point to the 200 metres, Invader ran 200 metre fractions of 11.01, 11.67 (400m in 22.68), 12.44 (600m in 35.12), 12.47 (800m in 47.59) and 12.27 to give him a quick time in the conditions, for that 1000 metre section of 59.86.