Almost lost in the publicity surrounding the return of Winx in a barrier trial at Rosehill has been the effort of Trapeze Artist, winner of the 900m-heat in which the champion finished midfield.
The Gerald Ryan-trained Trapeze Artist, an upset winner of the Golden Rose in September, was in control throughout Monday’s trial at Rosehill to beat Classic Uniform and Winx’s stablemate Comin’ Through.
“He is always the forgotten horse. He’s been forgotten all his life,” Ryan said.
“He’s a plain looking horse. He ‘s brown with a white face but has a great shoulder and a good girth and never leaves an oat.”
The trainer said the three-year-old would make his comeback in either the Group Two Expressway Stakes (1200m) at weight-for-age on February 3 or the Eskimo Prince against his own age a week later over the same distance.
“He will have 55 kilos in the Expressway or 60 in the Eskimo Prince so the Expressway could be the better option,” Ryan said.
Trapeze Artist was ridden on Monday by stable apprentice James Innes Jr who also rode two-year-old Omar to third in his 900m-trial and will retain the mount when the colt makes his race debut over 1100m at Rosehill on Saturday.
“He is a three-quarter brother to Menari and was retained to race by his breeder, Corumbene Stud,” Ryan said.
“At this stage he will run on Saturday and James will ride. He has done all the work on him.
“Omar is a bit of a character and acts like a colt but James gets on really well with him so he deserves to get the ride.”
The Ryan-trained Menari started favourite in the Golden Rose but finished third to his stablemate.
Ichihara is a sister to Menari’s dam Isurava while Omar’s granddam Cut A Dash is a three-quarter sister to Whisked, the mother of 13-time Group One winner Tie the Knot.
Omar was one of 18 youngsters nominated on Monday for the 2YO Plate while entries for the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) have been extended until Tuesday with 10 original nominations taken.
