Snitzel's gifted son Trapeze Artist staked his claim for the nations top sprinter by downing the favourite Redzel in Saturday's $2,500,000 Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Kerrin McEvoy set the early pace on the favourite Redzel and the Everest hero had his rivals off the bit in the straight.
Tye Angland was caught wide the trip on Trapeze Artist who unwound a withering burst of acceleration to power away inside the final 100 metres to win by two lengths from Redzel (Snitzel) with In Her Time only finding clear air in the final stages to finish another two lengths back in third. (photos Steve Hart).
"I've had a lot of faith in the horse and he'd been going very well," Ryan said.
"Bert (Vieira) really twisted my arm to run him so I thought the best I could do would be to freshen him up and have a crack at it.
"He just keeps going. I know he was covering ground today but he seems to appreciate that in a fast run race. He proved that in the Golden Rose.
"He's been a giant killer."
Ryan said Trapeze Artist's stallion appeal might hasten his retirement to stud and preclude him from running in the Everest in October.
"I think they might be knocking on the door for him to go to stud soon but I hope Bert keeps racing him because he's the best horse he's ever had," Ryan said.
"I know he'd probably get a lot of dollars for him but I hope he loves his racing as much as I do."
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 five wins and two thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $2,753,850.
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.
