The Everest favourite Trapeze Artist will take his place in the field for the Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) today despite the Rosehill track being rated a heavy this morning.
Trapeze Artist, above, will run on a heavy track in the Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer Gerald Ryan had thoughts of scratching Trapeze Artist when the heavy track sign went up after overnight rain and storms in the Sydney area, but after discussing the situation with the stallion’s owner, decided to kick off his Everest countdown today.
Ryan said that running Trapeze Artist in the Theo Marks Stakes today on a heavy 8 track was the better option than waiting until next week when he could strike a wet track again in the Group 2 $200,000 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick Group 2 $200,000 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick.
“The idea was that he wasn’t going to run on a heavy track, not that he is hopeless on it, he has won on a soft including a third in the Sires and a sixth in the Slipper on a heavy 10,” Ryan told Sky Racing’s Racing HQ Saturday.
“We weren’t going to run him but if we don’t run today and wait for next week at Randwick in the Shorts and it happens to come up like it did this morning, well you miss out again and all of a sudden you are behind the eight ball and chasing your tail.”
“At least if we run today we have three weeks until the Premiere Stakes and then two weeks to The Everest.”
“I would sooner chance him on today’s track and it is not that bad, a border line heavy 8 and I would sooner run him on today even with the weight than wait for next week and happen to strike a heavy 8 or a heavy 10 and you are chasing horses like Invincible Star and Redzel over 1100m.”
“It is too short for him and he probably ends up having a harder run than he will have today.”
Trapeze Artist has been lumped with 61kg but Ryan is content with that weight and can see Tye Angland tracking the Snitzel four year old up behind the leaders from barrier three in the field that has been reduced to seven runners with the scratching of the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Grande Rosso.
“Probably third in the run, wouldn’t like to see the horse leading,” Ryan said.
“He will be in the first three, whether following the leader or following the first two, I am not sure.”
Trapeze Artist was the early morning favourite for the Theo Marks Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au but is now the second pick at $3.20 after being displaced at the top of the market order by the Chris Waller trained D’Argento who has firmed into $2.90.
Hugh Bowman takes the ride on D’Argento who will jump from gate four and the grey also has the advantage of having a run under his belt after a first up third to his super star stablemate Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 18.
D’Argento is yet to be tested on a heavy track but has won both his starts on a soft rated track, including his win on a soft 6 in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Trapeze Artist is currently sharing favouritism at $4.80 with Redzel at Ladbrokes.com.au for the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.
