Trapeze Artist ready to begin campaign

Golden Rose winner Trapeze Artist is ready to begin his quest for another Group One victory and will be nominated for the Expressway Stakes.

But trainer Gerald Ryan says he will study the entries before committing the colt to Saturday’s Group Two weight-for-age Expressway Stakes at Rosehill.

The other option is to wait a week for the Eskimo Prince against his fellow three-year-olds in which he will have to carry 60kg as a Group One winner.

Trapeze Artist was the almost incidental winner of a barrier trial last Monday when most eyes were on champion Winx and some on star sprinter Redzel who finished sixth and seventh respectively.

“He’s always been a forgotten horse,” Ryan said.

“He gets under the radar but not with me. He is going very well and will be entered for the Expressway but I’ll wait and see what the race looks like before committing to run him.

“He gets 55 kilos in the Expressway but has to carry 60 in the Eskimo Prince so that’s something to think about.”

Happy Galaxy in 2013 is the last three-year-old to win the Expressway (1200m).

Trapeze Artist has won three races, all at long odds.

He was at $20 when he won his maiden at Newcastle, $31 in the Black Opal Stakes and $41 in the Golden Rose in which stablemate Menari was the well-supported favourite.

Ryan hopes Trapeze Artist can extend to the 1600 metres of the Randwick Guineas while Menari will be kept to sprinting with the Group One Galaxy scheduled as his return.

While Menari attracts attention partly because of his size and flashy looks, Trapeze Artist is the quiet achiever.

“He’s a bit plain looking,” Ryan said.

“But he’s a very good type. He has a great shoulder and a good girth and is a sound horse.”