The first official two year-old trials at Randwick each spring are always packed with anticipation and Widden Stud young gun Trapeze Artist made his mark with a heat winner and three place-getters, while champion sire Zoustar delivered a winning double.
Gary Portelli has developed a second to none reputation for producing quality juveniles and his Trapeze Artist colt Flying Trapeze booked a slot in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate on October 1 with a strong win in his 850m heat.
An $85,000 Magic Millions purchase for his trainer from the Widden Stud draft, Flying Trapeze was bred by Bert Vieira and is the second foal of Coromandel, a half-sister by Bernardini (USA) to Group II winner Toydini.
Trapeze Artist also had three place-getters in Snatchreilly (Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou), Sky Artist (Peter Robl) and Saroyan (Peter and Paul Snowden) backing up the opinion of Gary Portelli that a lot of people had Trapeze Artist stock and all of them were happy with them!
Widden Stud’s other first season sire Written By also had a promising colt on show with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt Maktabi running a good second in his heat to his stablemate Tarabeau.
Champion sire Zoustar is currently leading the Australian General Sires List by earnings with three Group winners already on the board in Kiku, Zougotcha and North Star Lass and his new crop of two year-olds are giving the promise of more success to come.
He sired two heat winners in powerhouse chestnut filly Platinum Jubilee and slick bay colt Ozzmosis.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Platinum Jubilee strode forward and led, controlling the trial all the way and scoring a comfortable win.
A $600,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds, Platinum Jubilee was bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock and is a half-sister to Group III winner Queen of the Ball from stakes-winning Fastnet Rock mare Miss Debutante.
She is bred on the same cross as Zougotcha, who is also from a daughter of Fastnet Rock.
Bjorn Baker has had plenty of success with Darby Racing horses and looks to have a bright prospect in Ozzmosis, who ran nearly the same time as Platinum Jubilee in wining his heat by more than a length.
A $250,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Sledmere Stud draft for Darby Racing, Ozzmosis was bred by China Horse Club and is the second foal from Group III winning Darci Brahma mare No More Tears (NZ), who comes from a fast female family featuring Group winners Hips Don’t Lie and Splintex.
