John O'Meara sends Chautuaqua clear © Photo Healy Racing
Denis Hogan took the last two races on the card in Clonmel and watched Chautuaqua impress on debut in the mares' bumper.
She raced in rear of the eight-runner field and took closer order in the final half mile.
The four-year-old daughter of Westerner came down the outer in the straight and make sustained progress by the two pole.
She surged past Claimc with a furlong and a half to go and shot clear in the final furlong. She wandered towards the closing stages but went into plenty of notebooks after winning by seven lengths at 14/1 (from 20/1). Oakroom Lady (9/2) got up for second from Clairmc (4/1).
Hogan said: "I didn't expect that as I felt she wasn't ready for this but she loves the ground. We knew she wanted that ground, it is gruelling ground but she is a real winter mare.
"She had a four-year-old allowance and John (O'Meara) took off 5lb and he put her to sleep. We were only riding her to run well and we thought she'd get tired but she must be very good.
"She'll bumper this season and there are a few Listed bumpers. There is a load of improvement in her.
"She was actually bought by a new owner Declan Sheridan, a restaurant owner from Cavan town, yesterday morning so it was a lucky start for him. I'm delighted for him he obviously doesn't mess around because I showed him a few horses and he bought two of them.
"John is a big part of the yard and he and Damien Skehan are my main men. John takes care of any of the hardy horses and is great for teaching young staff as well."
Hogan did the steering himself on Wild Hunt in the three mile handicap hurdle.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
