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By Brad Gray
At Rosehill Gardens

A decision on Chautauqua’s racing future will be made next week after the star grey didn’t jump cleanly in his race day trial at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“If he refused it would be black and white as to what the decision would be but he has missed it five or six lengths so we have to consider the circumstances,” said Racing NSW's Chairman Of Stewards Marc Van Gestel.

Chautauqua's race day trial

Once Chautauqua, with Tommy Berry in the saddle, did tag onto the back of the field he thundered home to run second behind Chris Waller’s three-year-old Zousain.

“They had gone a fair few strides before I had jumped out. When he did jump out he cruised around behind them and picked them up nicely in the straight with plenty left in the tank. It’s still not ideal though and not good enough,” said Berry.

A closer look at the Grey Flashes jump in his @rosehillgardens trial. pic.twitter.com/JdqFRK6j2o

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 25, 2018

Waller was quick to again reiterate how much Zousain reminds him of his old man Zoustar and the colt looked impressive in taking out the heat. The Autumn Sun and Lean Mean Machine both worked to the line, with the trio all set to clash in The Run To The Rose.

“The Autumn Sun trialled very well and is two weeks away from his first up run, The Run To The Rose. Then probably the Golden Rose or Caulfied Guineas Prelude and then onto the Caulfield Guineas. The (long term) plan is then to win a Derby, whether it be the Victorian or ATC,” said Waller.

“Zousain is on the same path. He’s a little sharper than The Autumn Sun so you’d expect him to be the pick of our horses from today’s trial in The Run To The Rose. He is a typical Zoustar. He looks just like his dad who really came into his own at three.

“Lean Mean Machine is more of a Guineas horse, he looks like a miler but trialled well too.”

The report card from all of the jockeys:

James McDonald (Zousain): “He is a lovely horse and is going the right way. He pulled up having a really good blow so he’ll improve a lot off that.”

Andrew Adkins (Dixie Blossoms): “She trialled well. Really nice and balanced throughout her work and ran the last 100m extremely well.”

Hugh Bowman (The Autumn Sun): “It was a good trial.”

Tye Angland (Lean Mean Machine): “Good trial and he’s a nice horse. He still had a decent blow so has got more to improve on.”

Jay Ford (Sambro): “He trialled well against that calibre of horse.”

Kerrin McEvoy (Youngstar): “It was a nice second trial. She was enthusiastic, moved well and I was pleased with how she felt.”

Glyn Schofield (Tally): “They were a bit too sharp for him early but he ran on well.”

Check out all of the results and replays for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.