Chautauqua To Start All Aged Stakes Favourite

Chautauqua has drifted out to 2015 All Aged Stakes odds of $3.30, but he remains a clear favourite to record his second straight win at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Chautauqua is set to start the 2015 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon as clear favourite. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Chautauqua is set to start the 2015 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon as clear favourite. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Chautauqua opened at a quote of $3 when the 2015 All Aged Stakes final field was released on Wednesday, but there has not been a great deal of support for the T.J. Smith Stakes winner due to concerns about where he will end up in the early stages of the race from barrier one.

Jockey Tommy Berry admits that he will be forced to ride Chautauqua for luck in the All Aged Stakes, but he told Sky Racing HQ that he is hopeful he can settle the Encosta De Lago gelding closer to the speed than he did in the T.J. Smith Stakes.

“I won’t go out there with too many plans and I will just have him in his comfort zone,” Berry said.

“You can’t really push to hold too much of a position because we have seen him over race in a few of his races and you kind just need to let him be where is happy.

“I am hoping to be midfield, there looks to be a little bit of speed drawn out wide that will push forward and then you have the horses like Scissor Kick and Shooting To Win that will push up to hold their spot inside the pace out wide.

“He will probably be three or four pairs back at worst and we just need to ride for a little bit of luck and hope he gets it on the day.

“If he does, I think that he is the best horse in the race, he has the best turn-of-foot and I don’t think that the 1400 will pose a problem at all.”

Terravista has been beaten by Chautauqua in both the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and T.J. Smith Stakes, but the Joe Pride-trained galloper has remained relatively steady at a quote of $6, while Lucky Hussler has drifted back out to $7 after opening at $6 following his victory in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m).

Australian Guineas winner Wandjina will be return to the races for the first time in almost a month is priced at $8 and Team Snowden-trained Shooting To Win is the only other horse available at single figure All Aged Stakes odds at $8.50.

There has been a sprinkling of support in the 2015 All Aged Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes for Laser Hawk ($51 into $41), Generalife ($26 into $21) and Weary ($67 into $61), while Dissident ($8.50 out to $10), Rebel Dane ($21 out to $26) and Famous Seamus ($41 out to $61) have all been on the drift.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.