The 3YO Snitzel colt Trapeze Artist became arguably the most valuable colt in Australian racing with a dominant victory in today’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.
And Coolmore Stud and Widden Stud received dream pedigree updates on the eve of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale following a big day of Group 1 racing in Australia and New Zealand.
Trapeze Artist (Snitzel x Treppes) scored a stunning victory in the autumn’s feature sprint race, leading home a trifecta of Inglis graduates as he beat Redzel (Snitzel) and In Her Time (Time Thief).
Breeder, vendor and owner Bert Vieira will now consider retiring the valuable colt to stud, given his strong bloodlines and brilliant racing record, which has seen him win two Group 1 races, place in two others and win a further two Stakes races, all from just 15 career starts.
“We are so excited, we’ve always believed in this horse,’’ Vieira said.
“My boy did it. We’re very proud.
“He might be worth too much to race on. There’s phone calls being made already.’’
Trapeze Artist is a graduate of the 2016 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, when he was offered by Vieira Group.
This year’s Easter Sale, which begins at Riverside Stables on Monday, received two significant pedigree updates from today’s racing.
Coolmore will offer the Fastnet Rock half sister to Group 1 NZ Breeders Stakes winner Miss Wilson (ex Cierzo) as Lot 72, which will go through the ring on Monday afternoon.
And Widden will offer Levendi’s Sebring half-sister (ex Lipari) as Lot 207, another valuable filly following Levendi’s victory in today’s Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick.
“It’s a great achievement for any mare to breed a G1 winner, but to breed two is nothing short of stunning, so great credit to Cierzo,’’ Coolmore’s Jim Carey said.
“Her Fastnet Rock filly is an absolute beauty and she is bred to be nothing short of an elite runner.’’
Widden’s Antony Thompson described the Sebring x Lipari filly as “one of the most popular fillies in our draft’’.
“She has blossomed so magnificently here at Riverside Stables since she arrived earlier in the week,’’ Thompson said.
“She’s a true professional and has a fantastic attitude, just like her brother.’’
The Australian Easter Yearling Sale at Riverside Stables begins at 2pm this coming Monday, April 9 and runs until Wednesday April 11.
To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.
Following the Easter Yearling Sale, the Chairman’s Sale Breeding Prospects takes place on Thursday April 12, also at Riverside Stables.
Over 200 Lots have been catalogued for the sale including five Group 1 winners, 39 Stakes winners, elite weanlings, stallion shares, proven producers such as the dams of Pinot (Dizelle, in foal to Flying Artie), Catkins (Salix Caprea, in foal to Capitalist) and Hong Kong star Nothingilikemore (Katisam, in foal to Vancouver), plus quality mares in foal to the likes of Frankel, Snitzel, I Am Invincible, American Pharoah, Capitalist, Written Tycoon, Not A Single Doubt, Divine Prophet and Rubick.
To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.
The big fortnight of action concludes with the Australian Broodmare & Weanling Sale from April 15-17, where a catalogue of 649 quality weanlings, race fillies and broodmares will be offered.
To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.
