TRAPEZE ARTIST RULED OUT OF EPSOM ASSAULT
TRAINER Gerald Ryan has ruled out a $1 million Epsom Handicap start for Trapeze Artist but left the door ajar for Washington Heights to run in the famous Randwick mile on Saturday.
Trapeze Artist, the dominant Golden Rose winner, and his stablemate Menari, will be switched back to sprints, while Washington Heights came through his Shannon Stakes win in such good order that Ryan was giving real consideration to running him in the Epsom.
Ryan, who is enjoying a tremendous season, preparing 15 winners already, including six stakes races for stable earnings of nearly $1.8 million, had entered both Trapeze Artist and Washington Heights for the Epsom Handicap.
But Ryan said Trapeze Artist and Golden Rose minor placegetter Menari would be aimed at the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day, November 4.
“Trapeze Artist won’t go to the Epsom or the Caulfield Guineas for that matter,’’ Ryan said.
“He will go back to sprints and have one more run, probably in the Roman Consul Stakes, before he races in the Coolmore.’’
There has been talk Menari could still go to the $10 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14 but Ryan said that was doubtful now as the colt was still to win a Group 1 race.
“The plan for Menari is to give him one more run in the spring and that will be the Coolmore Stud Stakes,” Ryan said.
“I think he will make a great straight-track horse.’’