Trapeze Artist to face stiff company

SUPER colt Trapeze Artist won’t lack for quality opposition in Sydney’s final Group 1 of the season, the $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick next Saturday.

The weight-for-age sprint has attracted 17 entries, including eight individual Group 1 winners. They include Hartnell, Le Romain, Brave Smash, It’s Somewhat, Clearly Innocent, The Mission and Heavens Above.

Trapeze Artist is a dual Group 1 winner himself, taking the Golden Rose in spring and the T.J. Smith Stakes against the older horses on Day One of The Championships this month.

The only other three-yearolds to beat the older horses at Group 1 level this season have been She Will Reign (Moir Stakes), Shoals (Myer Classic) and Alizee (Coolmore Legacy Stakes).

Trapeze Artist has been installed a dominant $2.50 TAB fixed odds favourite for the All Aged Stakes to become the first of his age group to score multiple big race wins against older horses.

Trainer Gerald Ryan has revealed stud plans for Trapeze Artist have been put on hold as part of a long-term bid to ready the sprinter for the $13 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.

“The colt’s owner, Bert Viera, told me The Everest is the plan but we’ve the All Aged first,’’ Ryan said. “The horse is bright and well in himself and will be there on Saturday.”

The only three-year-olds to win the All Aged Stakes this century were the filly Atlantic Jewel (2012) and gelding Paratroopers (2006). The last three-year-old colt to win the race was Flying Spur in 1995.

A new-look Kensington track at Randwick will stage its first race meeting in nearly four years tomorrow.