The Gerald Ryan trained Trapeze Artist has won the Group 1 $2.5 million T.J. Smith Stakes at the Randwick Racecourse on Saturday 7th April at the Championships Day 1 race meeting. The son of Snitzel won the race in an amazing 1min 8.29sec, which is now a new race record.
Trainer Ryan did a fantastic job with him due to which he was able to beat the race favourite Redzel. “I’ve had a lot of faith in this colt,’’ Ryan said. “His owner, Bert (Vieira) really twisted my arm about running him today and I thought about how I was going to freshen him up in a month.”
The Peter & Paul Snowden trained Redzel came in almost 2 lengths behind Trapeze Artist to come second and the Benjamin Smith trained In Her Time came in third another 2 lengths behind Redzel.
“I thought we were going to be strong late,’’ Ryan said. “He had a nice run but at about the 200m I was looking back for English and In Her Time who were swooping like we were. But once this colt gets his momentum, he just keeps going strong like he did in the Golden Rose. This was a fast run race upfront and I know he was covering ground but he seems to appreciate that as he gets into his action.”
His jockey Tye Angland was delighted by the colt’s performance. “Coming up the rise there, we had Redzel in our sights then being able to pick him up and put him away, that feels so good,’’ Angland said. “He has got a big future this horse, he is only a three-year-old but he has just beaten probably our best sprinter in Australia.’’
Click HERE for full results.
By Apurva Chavan, Racing Writer, apurva.chavan@secretariatsworld.com