Trapeze Artist wins Group One Golden Rose

Trainer Gerald Ryan and owner Bert Vieira celebrate after Trapeze Artist’s win in the Golden Rose.

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 Saturday’s $1 million Group One race at Rosehill.

But it was Trapeze Artist who proved the stronger over 1400 metres to beat the fast-finishing Champagne Cuddles ($17) by 4-1/4 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 next 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 1600 metres. 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 four-wide,” he said.

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

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

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

“I got on to Menari’s back from an awkward gate due to nice speed in the race.

“I actually had to pull off his back because I was going too good.”

The runner-up could also be seen at Randwick on the seven-day back-up with trainer Bjorn Baker to monitor Champagne Cuddles over the next couple of days before deciding whether she runs in the Group One Flight Stakes.

“I’m thrilled with her run and she has a strong constitution so if any horse can back up she can,” he said.

One of the most interested spectators was Arrowfield Stud proprietor John Messara who stands Snitzel, the sire of the two Ryan-trained colts, and Not A Single Doubt, the sire of the runner-up.

Ryan trained Snitzel to win the 2006 Oakleigh Plate and has trained many of his progeny but Trapeze Artist is the first colt by the stallion he has prepared to win a Group One race.

Menari’s owner Georger Altomonts said he would talk over plans with Ryan but was open to all scenarios.

“I don’t think he ran 1400 metres,” he said.

“So we could pull up stumps or get him ready for the Coolmore in Melbourne.”

Altomonte said he would also consider the $10 million Everest (1200m) if anyone came knocking offering a slot.