Three times Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist is among a small group of nominations for the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trapeze Artist, above, is among the nominations for the 2019 Expressway Stakes at Rosehill,. Photo by Steve Hart.

Trapeze Artist, above, is among the nominations for the 2019 Expressway Stakes at Rosehill,. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Australian Turf Club called for extra nominations for the Group 2 sprint after only six horses were entered at the Monday morning closing time.

Other Expressway Stakes nominations were the James Cummings trained Alizee and Hartnell, Kris Lees Group 1 winner Le Romain, Mark Newnham’s  Lanciato and Dothraki from the Peter and Paul Snowden stable.

Trainer Gerald Ryan cancelled a second barrier trial for Trapeze Artist after his work has been solid following a fourth placing in a 900m barrier trial at Rosehill on January 15.

“He has been working well so I decided against it,” Ryan told AAP.

“He put in a really good gallop on Friday so I’m very happy where he is at heading to the Expressway.”

Trapeze Artist proved to be among the top three year olds during the 2017 – 2018 racing season with a win against his own age in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill in the Spring followed by two wins at weight for age at Randwick during the following Autumn in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) and in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m).

Another successful campaign during the 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival could see Trapeze Artist head to England to run at the Royal Ascot carnival in June.

“(Owner) Bert Vieira would like to take him overseas and so Royal Ascot is a possibility,” Ryan said.

“I think it would be great to take him over there.”

Alizee had a pipe opener for the Autumn Carnival with a win in the Listed $150,000 Christmas Classic (1200m) at Randwick on December 29 and had had a barrier trial since for a third over 900m at Rosehill on January 15 while Group 1 winner Hartnell finished fourth in a 900m trial at Randwick on January 24.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.