Racing And Sports

Monday, 9 April 2018: Outstanding Snitzel colt Trapeze Artist may have only one more career start before he is retired to start a high profile stud career next spring.

While there are other options to consider, including an overseas campaign, the Brisbane carnival and further racing next season, it is expected a valuable stud deal will be finalised in the next week that will settle his future.
It is understood the favoured option is to retire Trapeze Artist after he contests the G1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday week

Trapeze Artist

became arguably the most valuable colt in Australian racing with his dominant victory in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday when he accounted for a crack field of older sprinters including established G1 stars Redzel and In Her Time.
His owner and breeder Bert Vieira said he is mindful to preserve Trapeze Artist’s stud value by not extending his career.
“We’ve always believed in this horse,’’ Vieira said. “He might be worth too much to race on.”
Trapeze Artist (Snitzel x Treppes by Domesday) has won five of his 13 starts with two placings for prize money of $2,753,850. His record includes two G1 wins and two G1 placings.
He was offered by the Vieira Group at the 2016 Australian Easter Yearling Sale but was passed in for $250,000 on a reserve of $300,000.
He is the second foal out of Treppes, a Domesday half-sister to G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Crawl (Dr Grace) and his Listed-winning brother Old Man (Dr Grace).
Treppes is also a half-sister to Step (Grand Lodge), the dam of G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner and G1 Caulfield Guineas placed Marching (Commands) and also the Listed winner Gait (Anabaa).
Trapeze Artist is the first winner for his dam, who foaled a colt by Zoustar in 2016 who subsequently died in a paddock accident.
She then produced a filly by Snitzel’s son Wandjina and was covered again by Snitzel last year.
Treppes was purchased by Connolly Bloodstock from a reduction sale at the 2011 Australian Weanling and Bloodstock Sale for $55,000. She was later purchased by Vieira for $190,000 in foal to Snitzel when reoffered at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Trapeze Artist is one of 82 stakes winners and 13 G1 winners by Snitzel, who was crowned champion sire in Australia last season for the first time and is in an unbeatable position to retain the title.
Snitzel broke his own Australian season earnings record almost two months ago and ended Saturday's racing with $24,926,451 on the board - more than double the earnings of nearest rival I Am Invincible. The sensational son of Redoute's Choice also heads the 2YO and 3YO Sires' Premierships
Snitzel stamped his dominance on Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick with a G1 quinella, a G3 quinella and two G1 placegetters adding $2.6 million to his record prizemoney for the season.
Trapeze Artist beat Snitzel’s Everest hero Redzel in the TJ Smith in race record time of 1:08.29 that bettered the previous mark set by Black Caviar in 2011.
It was Snitzel's second G1 quinella this season after Russian Revolution and Snitty Kitty filled the first two placings in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in February.
Snitzel notched up his 82nd career stakeswinner and his 24th in Australia this season - only three short of beating his own record tally of 26 stakes winners - when Shadwell Stud's home-bred Muraaqeb won the G3 Carbine Club Stakes.
The Lindsay Park-trained Muraaqeb is the first living foal of the Starcraft mare Tafseel, a $400,000 buy for Shadwell from Arrowfield's 2009 Easter draft.
This is the family of QTC Oaks and Queensland Derby winner Bravery, Brave Prince, Timbourina, Media and Star Encounter and her stakes-winning daughters Perfect Jewel and Royal Star.
Snitzel, a son of Redoute’s Choice, claimed his third G1 placing at Randwick when Tangled railed up for third in the ATC Australian Derby behind Levendi and Ace High, a pair both out of Redoute's Choice mares.
Snitzel’s other G1 placing came from Arbeitsam in the $3 million Doncaster Mile.