Chautauqua nominated for Oakleigh Plate

Champion sprinter Chautauqua headlines the 23 nominations for the Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.

The Hawkes Racing-trained gelding, winner of three consecutive TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney, is the highest-rated horse among the entries for Saturday’s 1100m handicap, one of three Group One races on the program which also features the Blue Diamond Stakes and Futurity Stakes.

Trainer Peter Gelagotis has Illustrious Lad going to the Oakleigh Plate ahead of a trip to Dubai.

The Gelagotis stable announced on Sunday the Group Two winner had been invited to run in the Group One Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on March 31.

Golden Slipper and Moir Stakes-winning filly She Will Reign is scheduled to have the second start of her campaign in the Oakleigh Plate while other notable entries include Group One Galaxy winner Russian Revolution.

The winners of the past two Oakleigh Plates, Flamberge (2016) and Sheidel (2017), are also entered.

Sheidel is one of three Lindsay Park-trained horses aimed at the Oakleigh Plate along with last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy and Winterbottom Stakes runner-up Fuhryk.

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra stable has five nominations – Booker, Flamberge, Crystal Dreamer, Rock ‘N’ Gold and Sword Of Light.

Nominations for Saturday’s Group One weight-for-age Futurity Stakes (1400m) have been extended until Tuesday morning after 14 entries were taken on Monday.

Victoria’s premier trainer Darren Weir has nominated Group One winners Humidor and Tosen Stardom as well as Brave Smash who was third in the C F Orr Stakes over the course and distance last Saturday week.

Four three-year-olds have been nominated including Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss who was one of the luckless runners in the C F Orr.

The other three-year-olds nominated are colts Showtime and Paret and the filly Booker.