The Aussie bookmakers are taking no chances with green-and-gold super sprinter Chautauqua who is set to jump clear favourite in the markets for Hong Kong’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize 2016 at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday.
Chautauqua is favourite to win his Hong Kong debut in the 2016 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin at Sunday. Photo: Steve Hart.
A final field of 14 champions from around the globe are set to face off in the $2.4 million Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint (1200m) on Sunday afternoon including two Australian raiders.
The Team Hawkes-trained Chautauqua leads the charge and the latest Chairman’s Sprint Prize odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, and is joined by the Robert Heathcote-trained Buffering ($6) also at single figures to steal the show from the locals.
Tommy Berry is over riding grey Encosta De Lago five-year-old Chautauqua from a nice barrier six draw, the gelding coming off a successful title defence in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 2.
A winner of over $5.5 million in prize money, Chautauqua is a four-time elite level winner in Australia and makes his international debut in the Chairman’s Sprint this weekend.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said the plan would be to get back with Chautauqua on Sunday before a late charge over the final 600m.
“It doesn’t matter where he draws as long as he has the right run and it depends on the speed around him and that’s probably going to be the key factor,” he told The Herald Sun.
“It depends how the race is run but he doesn’t have to be dead-set last, but it’s about getting the horse to relax where he is happy.”
The racing fairy tale for Heathcote’s Brisbane-based veteran Buffering will also continue in the Chairman’s Sprint, the rising nine-year-old continuing to make history despite his age.
Purchased for a modest $22,000 back in 2009, the ultra-consistent son of Mossman has gone on to amass over $7.2 million in career earnings over an illustrious 52-start career.
Buffering was last seen securing the prestigious Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) in Dubai with his regular rider Damian Browne in the saddle, Browne continuing his association this weekend at Sha Tin.
Another winner in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize barrier draw, Buffering came up trumps with gate three and looks a genuine hope of securing his fourth win on the trot.
A host of Hong Kong-based and other international visitors however are also in the mix on Sunday including Aerovelocity ($7.50) who suffered a blow drawing the far outside alley (14).
Pins seven-year-old Aerovelocity has plenty of Group 1 winning experience at Sha Tin and is out to atone for his second to Gold Fun in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize last season.
There are three other single figure hopes in the latest Chairman’s Sprint Prize betting markets including the reigning champion Gold-Fun at $8 in barrier five.
Also at $8 for the win is Thewizardofoz to be ridden by the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moriera, before the rails-drawn Lucky Bubbles ($9) rounds out the hopes under $10.
Aussie expat Brett Prebble rides the in-form Lucky Bubbles from barrier one on Sunday, the son of Sebring formerly prepared in Australia and coming off back-to-back wins.
See below for the full Chairman’s Sprint Prize 2016 field, barriers and latest Fixed Win odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au – home of the best local and international horse racing odds!
