Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes has rallied behind his stable's world champion sprinter Chautauqua after his defeat in Saturday's Rubiton Stakes, but some believe the gelding is struggling to regain his best form.
Hawkes, who trains in partnership with father John and bother Michael, would not be swayed by talk that the sprinter, who scored an amazing last-to-first win in the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin last May, is on the decline.
"He looks to me like he wants further, like 1400 metres would suit. He was low flying over his final 100 metres, I would love to see that sectional," Hawkes said.
One horse who did return to his best on Saturday was Black Heart Bart, who won yet another major race at Caulfield, the C.F. Orr Stakes.
It gave Darren Weir his 18th group 1 success, and the trainer was full of praise for the winning ride by Brad Rawiller on the former West Australian sprinter.
Earlier in the day, Craig Williams, who is tossing up between about five juveniles as to who he rides in the Blue Diamond Stakes, won both Preludes.
Catchy was the highly impressive winner of the fillies' heat and is now one of the main chances for the $1.5 million Blue Diamond on Saturday week. Trainer Robert Smerdon's high-class colt Property, who came with a huge finishing burst to win the colts' and geldings' heat, is also now a genuine threat..
However, the sticking point will be whether connections of Property are prepared to pay the late entry fee of $55,000
Williams will have to select between the two winners on Saturday as well as Tulip, Formality and Jukebox.
At Morphettville, racegoers were sent to the car park after a bomb scare, received before the fourth race.
Those evacuated remained outside the track for a short time before the all-clear was given for the meeting to resume.