Camera IconCredit: AAP

Aquis Farm swoops on Trapeze Artist for Everest as owners confirm colt will race on

Matt JonesThe Daily Telegraph

AQUIS Farm has made the first move and secured three-time Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist to run in its slot for the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 14.

Aquis chief executive officer Shane McGrath is confident they have got the brightest prospect heading into the race and said the negotiations with owner Bert Vieira were seamless.

“It’s great for us,” McGrath said.

“Bert is a man of his word and it was very straightforward. It was one conversation and we shook hands so I’m really looking forward to the big day.

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“He’s been on the radar as a stallion prospect.

“Bert has the best three-year-old in the land and as soon as he indicated he wanted to race on it made perfect sense to us.”

Trapeze Artist has won six times from 14 starts but what impressed Aquis most was the fact he turns up when it counts and wins the big races.

He has already won the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m), and his trio of Group 1s include the Golden Rose (1400m), TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and All Aged Stakes (1400m).

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Trapeze Artist snared his third Group 1 win of the season in the All Aged Stakes last Saturday.
Camera IconTrapeze Artist snared his third Group 1 win of the season in the All Aged Stakes last Saturday. Credit: AAP

The TJ Smith Stakes, two starts ago, was the race he announced himself as a contender for The Everest when he beat last year’s winner Redzel easily by two lengths.

“We’ve got the plumb horse which is what’s exciting for us,” McGrath said.

“He was a dominant winner of the Golden Rose and his last two victories, to my eye, have been as good as we’ve seen and I think he’s bombproof.

“If you had to pick one out this far away I think he’s the obvious choice.

“He’s a winner and he has that look about him and the will to win.”

The formation of the partnership further enhances Aquis’s chances of being the stud that stands the son of Snitzel when he retires.

He is already worth at least $30m as a stallion prospect and is expected to be retired after he competes in Hong Kong and Royal Ascot next year.

“The recognition that The Everest has got worldwide is a big factor in terms of our marketing of Aquis Farm,” McGrath said.

Owner Bert Vieira has resisted big offers from studs for Trapeze Artist and will race on with the colt next season.
Camera IconOwner Bert Vieira has resisted big offers from studs for Trapeze Artist and will race on with the colt next season. Credit: AAP

“I think every farm in the country would like to stand Trapeze Artist. I’ve had discussions with Bert about his stud career and racing future and he’s got great plans for the horse.

“It’s a great thing for Australian racing and there’s an opportunity for Aquis to assist him.”

Trainer Gerald Ryan said he stayed out of the negotiations, telling Vieira that he would support him no matter what decision he made.

He said Trapeze Artist’s attitude was the factor in winning the pair of Group 1 sprints after racing over 1600m a month earlier in the Randwick Guineas.

“I was happy to hear the news but the pressure doesn’t change as long as you believe in the horse,” Ryan said. “It’s very hard to do what that horse has done.

“To go from 1600m then freshen up and run a personal best over 1200m before backing up a fortnight later and beat Group 1 horses at their own game. Usually, when you freshen a horse up like that, you get just one good run out them and that’s it.”

Trapeze Artist will be set for The Everest in the spring before a possible overseas campaign.
Camera IconTrapeze Artist will be set for The Everest in the spring before a possible overseas campaign. Credit: AAP

Ryan had Deploy in The Everest (ninth) last year, after he ran a few track records and Chris Waller Racing secured him to run in its slot, but he said Trapeze Artist was a much better chance because he will have months to set him for the race.

“If your horse is fit and well, you don’t worry about the opposition,” he said.

Ryan might have another runner in The Everest if Menari returns from injury and wins a sprint race early in his campaign. He is still in the paddock but Ryan said one of the 11 other slot owners should keep their eye on him.

“Before he twisted a joint, two jockeys rode him in trackwork and told me he was the best sprinter in Australia,” Ryan said.

Snitzel to stand for $220,000

CHAMPION sire Snitzel will stand at a career-high $220,000 at Arrowfield Stud in the upcoming breeding season.

Snitzel has continued where he left off in 2016/17 with 25 stakes winners this season including Group 1 winners Trapeze Artist, Redzel, Russian Revolution and Golden Slipper winner Estijaab.

During the recent yearling sales, Snitzel produced 10 to fetch more than $1 million for an average of $500,000 at the major sales. Another son of Redoute’s Choice, Pariah will join the Arrowfield roster this season.

“Snitzel, Not A Single Doubt and Beneteau — all by Redoute’s Choice, all outstanding 2YOs and all outstanding sires. Pariah is in the same mould and we are excited to stand him,” Arrowfield chairman John Messara said.

Redoute’s Choice will serve a limited book of mares at $137,500

ARROWFIELD FEES 2018

SNITZEL (Redoute’s Choice-Snippets’ Lass) $220,000

REDOUTE’S CHOICE (Danehill- Shantha’s Choice) $137,500

NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (Redoute’s Choice-Singles Bar) $99,000

MAURICE (JPN) (Screen Hero-Mejiro Frances) $33,000

SHALAA (IRE) (Invincible Spirit-Ghurra) $33,000

DUNDEEL (NZ) (High Chaparral-Stareel) $27,500

PARIAH — (Redoute’s Choice-Secluded) $22,000

REAL IMPACT (JPN) (Deep Impact-Tokio Reality) $19,250

OLYMPIC GLORY (IRE) (Choisir-Acidanthera) $16,500

SCISSOR KICK (Redoute’s Choice-Back Pass) $16,500

MIKKI ISLE (JPN) (Deep Impact-Star Isle) $13,750

with AAP