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Straight-track specialist Chautauqua hasn't raced north of the border for almost a year, but the grey's return to Sydney hasn't fazed the Hawkes Racing partnership ahead of the mouth-watering TJ Smith Stakes clash at Randwick on Saturday.
Chautauqua's last appearance in NSW was a fifth in the Scone Guineas when stretched out to 1400 metres last May, but he has since proved lethal down the Flemington straight in winning the Bobbie Lewis and Gilgai Stakes.
His only defeats since spending the majority of his time in Melbourne have come in brave efforts in the Darley Classic and the Newmarket Handicap, but the four-year-old is favourite to snare a group 1 at his third attempt against Terravista, Lankan Rupee and co.
"He's raced up here plenty of times and he knows what the deal is," co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. "He's taken to it like a duck to water. He's there and there to win. The horse is good, he's travelled up well and he looks great. He's been set for this race all along - and he loves the wet."
Chautauqua was a firm $2.80 favourite with Ladbrokes on Tuesday evening for TJ Smith Stakes, a rung ahead of his Darley Classic conqueror Terravista ($3).
Whiteley fancies an upset
Chris Whiteley's recent memory of Sydney trips extends only to punching one around at Canterbury midweeks, but the man who served his apprenticeship in the city 25 years ago hasn't given up on winning a group 1 on one of Australia's biggest days of racing.
The Gold Coast-based jockey will venture south to partner mudlark Mishani Honcho in the Sires Produce Stakes after previously following Les Ross' tough two-year-old this side of the Tweed for the Silver Slipper and Todman Stakes.
"[The rain] brings him right into the race," Whiteley said. "He shouldn't be second outsider. I can't understand that. He's raced well in his couple of runs in Sydney and he'll surprise quite a lot. I think he has surprised quite a few so far. He did get beat 5½ [lengths] by Vancouver last start, but he was only a length off Headwater."
Blue Diamond winner Pride Of Dubai was a $3.60 favourite for the second leg of the two-year-old triple crown with Ladbrokes. Mishani Honcho, which has already toppled Magic Millions favourite Wicked Intent in the wet, was at $31.
Heavy-handed forecast
Randwick track manager Nevesh Ramdhani is facing his usual stressful build-up to the Easter weekend, but while he may have budgeted for rain this week he didn't bank on the unofficial track rating offered at Tuesday's Doncaster Mile barrier draw.
The broadcast described Randwick in the heavy range as rain tumbled down into the Theatre Of The Horse, a rating far removed from what Ramdhani had earlier posted on Tuesday morning.
"We had it a Soft 5 [on Tuesday] morning and with that rain, it's closer to a Soft 6 now," Ramdhani said. "It's been fairly cool and I don't think it will be a heavy track [on Saturday]. We're just hoping for no further rain because it hasn't been particularly warm and they're not forecasting to get warm."
Doncaster overweights
Stewards have granted permission for four jockeys to ride their Doncaster Mile mounts half a kilogram overweight, while one - who has been wasting for weeks - sweats on having a confirmed ride.
Dwayne Dunn (Ninth Legion), Craig Williams (It's Somewhat) and Corey Brown (Suavito) will all have some leeway in meeting their light imposts for the time-honoured Randwick mile.
The news will be little consolation to Sam Clipperton, who received almost a month's notice before shedding weight to meet Sweynesse's 50-kilogram handicap.
The Godolphin three-year-old was only made a first emergency when the field was declared on Tuesday and Clipperton will ride at 50.5kg if the horse starts.
Kensington delay
The already delayed return to the maligned Kensington track has been put back again with next Wednesday's meeting, designed to run alongside the Easter sales, transferred to Warwick Farm. The distances of three races have been altered as a result.
