Ryan dismisses Trapeze Artist's second-up syndrome
If there is a black spot on the career of triple group 1 winner Trapeze Artist, it appears to come at his second run from a spell, but trainer Gerald Ryan puts that down to coincidence.
In three second-up runs, the Snitzel four-year-old has failed to run a place, which could be a worrying factor for punters heading into Saturday’s Premiere Stakes at Randwick with The Everest favourite.
“All I can tell people is that he is fit enough to be winning on Saturday,” Ryan said. “They want to make something out of his second-up record, but the first time it was on a soft track and he was trapped wide and it was won by the Sires winner [Invader].
“The second one he didn’t have the blinkers in the Stan Fox and came out and killed them in the Golden Rose the start after, and in the Hobartville there was no speed and he was forced to lead and was a sitting shot for some good horses.
“For a lot of horses, running three fourths like that would be seen as a good thing.”
Trapeze Artist has always been a horse that has raced his way to peak fitness. His Golden Rose, TJ Smith and All Aged Stakes wins all came well into his preparations.
Ryan gave Trapeze Artist a test out of the gates without his blinkers on Tuesday morning and is confident he will give his Everest rivals something to think about at Randwick. He was delighted to draw barrier three and get back to a firm track.
“He is a hard horse to get a guide on because he just does what he has to on the track,” Ryan said. “He is where I want him and, come game day, he will really switch on.
“They are a very even bunch of sprinters, so draw and luck in running will play a big role on Saturday and in The Everest, but I’m confident he can match it with any of them.”