FROLICKING in a paddock and munching on some fresh feed are a far cry from the bright lights of Sha Tin for the world's best sprinter.

But Chautauqua has earned every little bit of it after a breath taking first to last victory in the Chairman's Sprint.

The five year old gelding, which started as the $2.20 favourite with Sportsbet.com.au, won its fifth group one and first in Hong Kong with a remarkable run which will go down in history and cement his place as the greatest sprinter of our time.

Up against another gun Aussie horse in Buffering, jockey Tommy Berry settled the gun speedster last and then unleashed ‘The Thunder From Down Under', his devastating turn of pace too much for the field to hold off, finishing just a neck ahead from Lucky Bubbles with Aussie Brett Prebble aboard to make it five group one wins.

“What did we just see?” Berry asked after the race.

“I can't believe he did what he did

“I have never ridden in a sprint race where they have gone so quick, so I was confident he would run home as quick as he would.

“Jesus, to take that many lengths of some good sprinters.

“They went hard, but this horse is amazing.

“Horses just don't do what he did.

“It wasn't a worry how far back I was but it was a worry that he was off the bit so far out and usually horses that don't travel in races find it hard to finish off but that's where this horse is very special and he has overcome that once again.

“Even when I pulled up Brett Prebble (Lucky Bubbles) said I don't think I've been a race where they've gone that hard.

“I actually took it back a notch from the 200 and just let him go through his gears because I was starting to get a little bit excited myself.”

Connections have tempered their elation, though, and won't go chasing the $1 million bonus on offer at in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, instead forfeiting the temptation of winning group ones in three different countries, for the paddock.

Owner Rupert Legh has confirmed the gun sprinter had pulled up a little worse for wear from the blistering run at Sha Tin – a black eye among his ailments – and would now be given time to recuperate, rather than taking on the gruelling trip to the United Kingdom.

Trained by the famed Hawkes family – father John and sons Michael and Wayne – Michael said it was a decision made for the horse's benefit.

“It was about the horse and not about the money,” Hawkes said.

“It's in the best interests of the horse to go home. He pulled up a little bit flat and has got half a black eye.

“He has done his job.

“He has just had enough and has had four hard runs.

“He has got nothing to prove, not that he ever has.

“He won both races and had four hard runs in the meantime.

“As much as the carrot is big in England, the horse comes first.”

He said Chautauqua would now be aiming for the Group One Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington during Melbourne's Spring Carnival.

It might be his favourite track, be he hasn't been able to get past the post first, finishing as the bridesmaid in each of the past two years.

More travelling could then be on the cards, with the group one Hong Kong sprint (1200m) on the cards in December.

Rumour has it connections have been approached by American racing dignitaries for a potential run at the Breeders' Cup in November.

The horse will spend two weeks in quarantine, before heading to the paddock.

His compatriot Buffering also pulled up very sore after leading the race at one point, fading to finish last and now his future is up in the air after a wonderful racing career that featured seven group one sprinting wins.

A decision on his future will be made when he is back in Australia.

In other racing news out of the Sha Tin meet, Japan's Horse of the Year, Maurice, claimed its seventh race in a row with a brilliant run on the group one Champions Mile.

Piloted by Brazilian legend Joao Moreira, Maurice was simply perfect in its run and a well deserved winner of the race, with Aussie Prebble again the bridesmaid aboard Contentment.

It was his fourth group one win and gave him nine wins from 14 starts.

Heading to the US and the markets are already shaping around the the Kentucky Derby events.

Gun colt Nyquist, named after Detroit Red Wings hockey star Gustav Nyquist, expected to start the 142nd incarnation of the race as favourite next Saturday.

He's never lost a race in seven starts.

A full field of 20 horses is set to line up for the race, with it set to be finalised tomorrow.

And back in Australia, it is bad news for guns two year old Flying Artie, who has been diagnosed with a sesamoid problem at the back of the fetlock joint.

The early favourite for the Caulfield Guineas will now miss the entire Spring Carnival and is set for a long stint on the sidelines.

“He's been a very sound horse, bar one day,” trainer Mick Price said.

“He had a pulse in the medial sesamoid near front,” Price said.

“We've since found some old degeneration in between the sesamoid and the cannon bone.

“It's an unusual injury and I think it might have been sitting there for a while and the Slipper stirred it up.

“The advice is he needs to spell long enough and that rules out the spring.”