Expressway Stakes winner Trapeze Artist will not take on Winx if she runs in the Apollo Stakes with connections opting to keep him against his fellow three-year-olds.
The colt was an impressive winner of Saturday’s Group Two Expressway Stakes (1200m), prompting talk of another tilt at weight-for-age in the Group Two Apollo (1400m) on February 17.
But on Monday, trainer Gerald Ryan said the Group One Golden Rose winner would stick to the more traditional three-year-old path of the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) on February 24 as a lead-in to the Randwick Guineas (1600m) two weeks later.
“Trapeze Artist will stick to the three-year-old races,” Ryan said.
“They are against his own age at set weights.”
The Ryan-trained Deploy tuned up for his return in the Group Three Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) on Apollo Stakes day at Randwick with a pleasing fourth in a barrier trial at Rosehill on Monday.
Deploy finished 3-3/4 lengths behind dominant winner Redzel and just in front of champion Winx in the 1000m-heat on the course proper.
“I’m pleased with him,” Ryan said.
The trainer is even more pleased with two-year-old Legend Of Condor who heads to the Pierro Plate at the Apollo meeting off a 1-1/4 length win at Monday’s trials.
Legend Of Condor won his only start in October over 1000 metres.
Another impressive trial winner for the stable was Girl Sunday who won her 900m-heat by four lengths.
“We will look at the Triscay Stakes on the 17th with her,” Ryan said.
“She had a bit of a setback when she scoped dirty and we had to treat her.
“It was during the really hot weather but she’s fine now.”
