The last race at Rosehill on Saturday produced a titanic tussle for victory with previously unbeaten Shamus Award filly The Black Cloud edged out in a thriller by Trapeze Artist colt Wallenda.
The Black Cloud was favourite for the 1200m Benchmark 72 event chasing her third win on the trot, but the Ciaron Maher trained Wallenda stalked her all the way and laid down a big challenge over the final stages to win by a long head with three lengths back to the third horse.
The Black Cloud was game in defeat, while Wallenda was rewarded for consistency and has the overall record of one two wins and four placings from seven starts with prizemoney topping $163,000.
A $160,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Widden Stud draft for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, Wallenda is a half-brother to stakes-winner Decircles and four more stakes-placed horses being among 10 winners from 10 to race from top producer Lady Circles, a half-sister to champions Elvstroem and Haradasun from Group I winner Circles of Gold. Wallenda is her final foal.
Widden Stud’s Trapeze Artist is flying high as the leading second crop sire by winners and earnings with his Caulfield Guineas winning son Griff looking good in recent Sydney trials for the Ciaron Maher stable ahead of his autumn preparation.
