Trapeze Artist Colt Wins $150,000 Aquis Gold Nugget

Tara Madgwick - Saturday January 6

The highest-priced Trapeze Artist yearling in 2023, Spywire was a $520,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Group 1 Bloodstock from the Widden draft at Magic Millions last year and he will start amongst the top chances in next week’s $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic after a cavalier win in the $150,000 Aquis Gold Nugget (1100m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Spywire was an impressive debut winner at Rosehill on November 15 before finishing second to Highness in the Wyong MM 2YO when he appeared to switch off late and was run down.

There was no switching off this time, with Craig Williams keeping Spywire up to the task from the jump. He strode to the lead and controlled the race, seeing off some potential challengers turning for home and then cruising to the line to win as he pleased over last start stakes-winner Beau Dazzler, who heads next to New Zealand for the Karaka Million.

Ciaron Maher was originally going to trial Spywire at the Gold Coast earlier this week, but the weather forced him to go to Plan B with the option of racing in the Nugget seen as the perfect lead up for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, which he has won twice previously with top class fillies Away Game and Coolangatta.

“He can be a fresh horse and I thought having the race seven days out would help him and especially going to the 1200m,” said Maher, who won the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas last spring with another Trapeze Artist colt in Griff.

“With today’s run under his belt he should be spot on.

Advertisement

“He’s a beautiful horse and by Trapeze Artist..  we’ve had a fair bit of luck with them this season and hopefully this boy is the next one.”

Spywire was the highest priced yearling from the second crop of Trapeze Artist.

Bred by Widden in partnership with Robert Anderson, Spywire is the second winner from three to race for the stakes-winning Denman mare Secret Trail, a $700,000 purchase for RMA Bloodstock from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2019 National Broodmare Sale.

Out of a half-sister to Group I winner Gold Trail, Secret Trail has a yearling filly by Zoustar and was covered by Anamoe last spring.

Trapeze Artist has 21 entries for Magic Millions.

Advertisment

Race Result - Aquis Gold Nugget 1100m

Gold Coast Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.28
1
Spywire
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Secret Trail (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Craig Williams 56
2
2.3
Beau Dazzler
- 2c Ardrossan (AUS) x Pwerfect (AUS) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Tony & Maddysen Sears Rdr: R Dolan 58
NZB Karaka Book 1 $100,000
Seller: Elsdon Park
Buyer: Benner Racing Ltd
3
4.8
Defiant Boom
- 2c Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Defiant Dame (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: S W Kendrick Rdr: M Rodd 56
4
7.8
Cosmic Fire
- 2g Cosmic Force (AUS) x Exellas (AUS) (Helmet (AUS))
Tnr: Billy Healey Rdr: Angela Jones 56
5
11.3
Balastier
- 2c Brazen Beau (AUS) x See Me Exceed (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: James Orman 56
6
12.3
Mishani Burn
- 2g Jet Spur (AUS) x Mishani Believer (AUS) (Poet's Voice (GB))
Tnr: L G Ross Rdr: Ben Thompson 56
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
Highest Priced Trapeze Artist Colt Makes Exciting Debut
Seven 2-year-olds made their career debuts in the Toyota Forklifts Maiden Hcp (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday, and the Trapeze Artist colt Spywire put them to the sword.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.