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A stud deal has finally been completed for outstanding sprinter Trapeze Artist with the son of Snitzel to retire to Widden Stud later this year.
The stud plans for Trapeze Artist were revealed in the wake of his fourth G1 win at Randwick in Saturday when he captured the $500,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) in track record time, taking his career earnings to more than $5.5 million.
With seven wins from 19 starts Trapeze Artist has attained the highest-ever Timeform rating by a stallion from the Redoute's Choice line and is the highest rated son of Snitzel.Trapeze Artist, trained by Gerald Ryan for his breeders the Vieira family, ran to the lead in the Canterbury Stakes and reeled off four sub 11-second sectionals as he sped to a 1.5 length win in 1:14.19, the third time he has won in record time at Randwick.
Snitzel’s progeny have now won 19 G1 races with Gerald Ryan responsible for much of the breed’s success.Ryan trained Snitzel and has trained 13 stakes winners by his former star.
The win by Trapeze Artist has helped Snitzel increase his seasonal earnings to $18.7 million, almost the same figure he’d reached at the same stage of his record-breaking 2017/18 premiership season.Managing owner Bert Vieira had been negotiating a stud deal for Trapeze Artist (Snitzel x Treppes by Domeland) since his first G1 win in the Golden Rose in 2017.
The price rose considerably last autumn when Trapeze Artist set course records in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes and G1 All Aged Stakes, races he is now set to contest again over the next five weeks before a decision is made on whether he ends his career with a campaign in the UK.Trapeze Artist lowered Black Caviar's Randwick 1200m record in his win in the TJ Smith and also clocked a record time over 1400m in the All Aged Stakes last year.
"He's been the horse that everyone has wanted," said Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson."He is just the hottest young sire prospect and could be a real breed-shaper.”
Trapeze Artist will take the place of the recently deceased Sebring on the Widden roster, standing with Zoustar, Star Witness and Nicconi.Ryan said Trapeze Artist had been inoculated for a trip to the UK but nothing was certain until he completes his Sydney carnival program.
Trapeze Artist was retained by Bert Viera after failing to reach a reserve of $300,000 at the 2016 Australian Easter Yearling Sale.Trapeze Artist is out of the Domesday mare Treppes, a half-sister to G1 Stradbroke winner Crawl (Dr Grace) and the Listed winner Old Man (Dr Grace).
Step (Grand Lodge), a half-sister to Treppes, produced the G2 winner and G1-placed Marching (Commands).Widden Stud and Bert Viera also celebrated breeding success at Flemington on Saturday.
Newmarket Handicap winner Sunlight was bred from the first crop of Widden’s star stallion Zoustar while the Vieira Group sold Listed Incognitus Stakes winner Anjana (Sepoy x Further by More Than Ready) for $34,000 at the 2017 Sydney Classic Yearling Sale.