Trainer Gerald Ryan may have been full of post-win talk of an Epsom Handicap back-up for his upset Golden Rose winner Trapeze Artist but has since confirmed plans to save the horse for a Coolmore Stud Stakes 2017 bid in Melbourne this November.
The forgotten horse in last Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m), Snitzel colt Trapeze Artist became a very valuable stallion prospect with an impressive four and a quarter-length victory in the Sydney elite level.
Improving on a lead-up fourth in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m), Trapeze Artist relished coming back in distance for the Golden Rose and beat home the filly Champagne Cuddles.
Ryan also saddled-up the beaten favourite Menari who rounded out the shock Golden Rose trifecta in third, four and a half-lengths off his stablemate who got the run of the race from the wide barrier with Tye Angland aboard.
“Going into the race, I thought Menari would’ve been following Trapeze Artist out of the gates,” RSN on Sunday.
“But Menari began nearly a neck in front, and Josh [Parr] took advantage of it.
“And then Trapeze Artist was able to slot in behind and get cover for 300m, and Tye had to come outside Menari’s heels at the 600m because he was travelling too well behind him.
“But he did get galloped on, Menari, and lost a front plate but I’m not using that as an excuse.
“My first thoughts this time was he wouldn’t go to a Golden Rose as he’s more a 1200m horse, but it was a Group 1, own age, home track… you have to have a crack.
“These two were the first two colts home in a Golden Slipper, and the first two colts home in a Golden Rose.”
Immediately after the Golden Rose Stakes win Ryan suggested Trapeze Artist could become the first three-year-old starter in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) in seven days’ time since 1987.
Trapeze Artist would have gotten into the $1 million Epsom Handicap field at Royal Randwick this weekend on just 48kg.
On Sunday morning however the horseman had cooled down and confirmed both Trapeze Artist and fellow Snitzel colt Menari were targeting Flemington’s Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the straight on Victoria Derby Day, November 4.
Menari will not have another run before his Melbourne Cup Carnival target down the ‘Straight Six’, but Trapeze Artist will be seen again before the Coolmore.
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