The latter stages of Trapeze Artist’s days on the track have brought the greatest of joys and in no small way contributed to the long and slow recovery process of Vieira’s wife Gai, who suffered serious injuries in a car accident last year.
“Our whole family was, and still is, rocked by what happened to Gai and without Trapeze Artist I’m not sure how we would have been able to stay positive in such an awful time,” Bert Vieira said.
“To then see our jockey Tye Angland suffer that horrible injury in Hong Kong only exacerbated the situation.
Gai and Bert Vieira following Trapeze Artist winning at Rosehill
“What Trapeze Artist means to us is something that money can’t buy. He’s a part of our family and we’re so grateful that he has been around at the time when we’ve needed some joy in our lives.”
"He’s a part of our family and we’re so grateful that he has been around at the time when we’ve needed some joy in our lives.” - Bert Vieira
Angland was Trapeze Artist’s regular rider and they combined to win the G1 Golden Rose S., the G1 TJ Smith S. and the G1 All Aged S. Their outstanding partnership was broken when the jockey was involved in a horrific fall at Sha Tin last November.
Trapeze Artist was ridden by Blake Shinn to victory in last month’s G1 Canterbury S. and he dedicated the win to Angland in a performance that further boosted the spirits of Vieira’s wife.
“To see the thrill in Gai’s eyes when we arrived at the hospital that night with the Canterbury S. trophy was something I will never forget,” he said.
Top of the tree
Earlier this month time was called on Trapeze Artist’s career with the announcement that he will retire to Widden Stud to stand on behalf of Vieria.
His 2019 service fee of $99,000 (inc GST) is one of the highest for a debut Australian stallion ever and Vieira has subsequently explained the rationale behind the hefty price tag.
“I have pledged to support this horse with the majority of mares we currently own and I will further commit by going to the market and buying new stock,” he said.
“We are working hard on the mare catalogues as we speak. I understand the service for Trapeze Artist has been a point of discussion. It was my decision and I stand by it.
"I understand the service fee for Trapeze Artist has been a point of discussion. It was my decision and I stand by it." - Bert Vieira
“Widden Stud is the right home for him. They’re a wonderful outfit and their strike rate of producing elite stallions is second to none, but ultimately his fee is my decision and I accept that he’ll be accessible to only a small portion of the market.
Trapeze Artist after his win in the G1 Canterbury S.
“But he’s a magnificent type by the champion sire Snitzel so with all that combined comes a premium for his services.
“I do believe there is no better credentialed first season sire to stand in Australia in terms of future success.
“The I Am Invincibles, the Zoustars, Snitzels, Fastnet Rocks of the world are all speed horses who were at their best at sprinting distances."
“I do believe there is no better credentialed first season sire to stand in Australia in terms of future success." - Bert Vieira
A Snitzel star
Trained throughout his career by Gerald Ryan, the brilliant son of Snitzel won seven of his 20 starts and more than $5.5 million.
He was a precocious talent and won the G3 Black Opal S. as a 2-year-old before returning at three to claim the G1 Golden Rose S., the G1 TJ Smith S and the G1 All Aged S. under the guidance of trainer Gerald Ryan.
“When Gerald freshened this horse up for the TJ Smith he turned into a monster and we finally found the key with him. He’s an out and out sprinter,” Vieira said.
Watch: Trapeze Artist winning the G1 TJ Smith S.
“Ultimately, we love our racing and we will most likely never find another Trapeze Artist so the decision to race on at four was an easy one in the end.
“I feel every box has been ticked, having raced on and won the G1 Canterbury S. in the style he did and then secure a home for him at Widden.
“There are four things in my mind that make a successful stallion. One, the ability to dominate your own age group; two, the ability to dominate the older opposition at weight-for-age level; three, the ability to train on at four and be winning Group 1 races and lastly, the support and promotion of a respected stud farm is paramount.”
Bred by the Vieira family and retained by them after failing to meet his $300,000 reserve at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale in 2016, Trapeze Artist is a son of the Domesday mare Treppes.
She is a half-sister to the G1 Stradbroke H. winner Crawl (Dr Grace {NZ}) with their dam Traipse (Bletchingly) a sister to the G1 Goodwood H. winner Boardwalk Angel, dam of the G1 Railway H. winner Coogee Walk (Success Express {USA}).
Trapeze Artist winning the G1 Canterbury S.
