Chautauqua (Image: Racing Photos)
Wayne Hawkes said he has never seen Chautauqua work better than what the mighty grey did in his tune-up for the $1 million Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes.
The star sprinter has won just one of his nine starts since his thrilling Chairman's Sprint Prize performance in Hong Kong last year - although that one win was an equally thrilling one as he made it three-straight T.J. Smith Stakes wins in jaw-dropping fashion in the autumn.
As usual, Chautauqua's best work on raceday has been very late - too late - this prep, but he has been monstering the line in three runs this spring, including running fourth in the $10 million Everest, beaten only one-and-a-half lengths by Redzel.
The 2015 Manikato winner has come up an $8.50 shot to win the race again - behind Vega Magic ($2.15) and In Her Time ($6) - as a result of his recent defeats.
Head of the family's Melbourne base at Flemington, co-trainer Hawkes said Chautauqua continues to amaze him in his trackwork.
"I reckon he's better. It's pretty hard for a seven-year-old to come back and be better," Hawkes said on Thursday morning.
"His work Tuesday morning was the best I've ever seen.
"So that only equates to what he did the other day in The Everest.
"When I told my brother (co-trainer Michael), he said, 'See, I told you'.
"He's going pretty good for a 35-year-old footballer; he would be, in football terms."
Hawkes said Chautauqua is certainly going to appreciate more cushion in The Valley track, too, than what he has been getting in his Sydney campaign, with the surface rated a Good 4 as of Thursday.
"He doesn't have the same accolades as Winx because he doesn't win every start, but Winx probably doesn't give them as big a start as what he does sometimes either," Hawkes said.
"He's settled back in really good, he's happy to be here, he loves wet tracks - Sydney's been rock hard, so he's been doing the rain dance the last two days and it's working so far."
But while Hawkes conceded Chautauqua's 13-from-31 strike-rate cost him Winx-level accolades, there is no doubt in his mind what esteem he holds the mighty grey.
"We're very, very lucky this weekend we're seeing the best two horses in the country - it's good for Moonee Valley," he quipped.