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 - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
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.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.