Snitzel's Trapeze Artist Joins the Millionaire Club

Making his first start since disappointing in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington back on November 4, the Golden Rose hero Trapeze Artist was back to his best when proving too strong for his six opponents in Saturday's $200,000 Group II Sydney Markets Expressway Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

The Gerald Ryan-trained son of Snitzel was one of the first to begin for Tim Clark.

Tracking the pacesetting Memes, Trapeze Artist took control of the race at the three hundred metres and defied all in the drive to the line.

Fellow Snitzel colt Showtime came closest at a safe one and a quarter length while favourite Addictive Nature (Savabeel) clocked in a further half-neck back in third after not having the clearest of runs in the final 200 metres. (photos Steve Hart ). 

Winner of the Group III Black Opal Stakes last season at two and a facile winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose in the spring, Trapeze Artist advances his record to four wins and one third from 10 starts with earnings of $1,073,550.

"He probably shouldn't have gone to Melbourne, he had that setback but he came back well," Ryan said.

"He only had 23 days at Kooringal Lodge and it was straight back into work.

"Right from the word go this time in, I said to his owner Bert (Vierra) that the horse is flying.

"He trialled better than I thought he would. He's a good colt to have around the place, he is very quiet and doesn't take any notice of what's going on around him, eats all his feed but works like a maiden.

"He has always flown under the radar and I think this autumn you will see a real nice horse."

Passed in when failing to make his $300,000 reserve at the 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling sale, Trapeze Artist races for a group headed by his breeder Bert Vieira.

Viera purchased the colt's dam Treppes (Domesday) for $190,000 out of the Edinburgh Park draft at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale.

She was carrying Trapeze Artist at the time of her sale.

A half-sister to Group I Stradbroke Handicap winner Crawl and the multiple Listed winner Old Man, Treppes has had a series of misfortunes since foaling Trapeze Artist. She missed the following two seasons then her Zoustar colt died after birth.

Treppes has a filly foal by Wandjina and was bred back to Snitzel last spring.