Ryan plucks Golden Rose with second-string hope

GERALD Ryan has trained his first Golden Rose winner, but not with the colt everyone expected.

Trapeze Artist was specked from $91 to $41 with his stablemate Menari the $2.40 favourite to win yesterday’s $1 million Group 1 race at Rosehill.

But it was Trapeze Artist who proved the stronger over 1400m to beat the fast-finishing Champagne Cuddles ($17) by 4¼ lengths with Menari another half neck third.

Perhaps the only person not too surprised was Ryan who added blinkers to Trapeze Artist’s gear as he did when the colt won the Black Opal and is now looking to give the colt a chance for another Group One win in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday.

“I have been saying for two weeks this horse has been flying under the radar because he has taken a different path,” Ryan said.

“He has been the forgotten horse but I had him top three.

“He’s in the Epsom and why not? He gets in with 48 kilos and he will run 1600m. It is a serious consideration depending on how he comes through today.”

Ryan thought Menari had his chance but could take nothing away from the winner.

“Menari may have been a bit close early off a hot speed but Trapeze Artist was fourwide,” he said.

Menari’s jockey Josh Parr said the colt had lost a shoe in running and the 1400m may have been beyond him.

For winning jockey Tye Angland, the race worked out perfectly.

“It’s the first time I have ridden him,” he said.