Vieira backing his ‘heir apparent’ Trapeze Artist to make his mark
Owner has no regrets in retaining his Widden Stud-based stallion who enters a third covering season at $66,000
Bert Vieira rejected a $36 million offer for Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) as a stallion prospect but, two years into the sire’s stud career, he has no regrets about retaining ownership rather than cashing in on the champion three-year-old as he prepares for his third year at Widden.
The star sprinter, a Black Opal Stakes- (Gr 3, 1200m) winning, Group 1-placed juvenile, became hot property during the 2017-18 as a three-year-old being a son of Australia’s champion stallion in Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) who landed three Group 1 races that season.
The Sydney-based Vieira said ‘no’ to stud overtures in 2018 and chose to race the Gerald Ryan-trained colt on at four, a decision which would prove justified when he was runner-up in The Everest (1200m) and took out the Canterbury Stakes (Gr 1, 1300m).
Again, Vieira stuck to his guns on the value of Trapeze Artist and struck a standing rights deal with Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson for his prized sprinter to begin his breeding career in the Hunter Valley in 2019.
Trapeze Artist, who Vieira was not prepared to part with at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, stood for an introductory service fee of $88,000 (all fees inc GST) and $77,000 last year.
He will stand at a fee of $66,000 this year.
Vieira, speaking to ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday, said he was “very comfortable” with his decision to pass up an initial financial windfall upon the retirement of Trapeze Artist.
“I don’t think he wanted to be sold because if you know the history: he was up for sale as a yearling. I asked for $350,000 and (buyers) didn’t offer that,” he said.
“They offered $260,000 or $280,000, so I brought him home and then he produced what he produced – four Group 1s and being (crowned) champion three-year-old. He won so much and everyone wanted to buy him.
“Studs said (his value was) $40 million and I agreed with that, but when we went to dance they went down to $36 million and I went down to $38 million and then they went down to $33 million. It was a game, so I said, ‘fine, I’ll take him home’. They said, ‘it is $3 million in the first month for fertility insurance’. I said, ‘yeah, I know. I do have money’.
“I am happy that I made that decision and he (Trapeze Artist) wanted to remain with me. I couldn’t sell the horse.”
There was much debate about the first season service fee of Trapeze Artist, which was initially set at $99,000 before being reduced to $88,000 based on feedback to Vieira, but breeders still flocked to him, covering 188 mares in his opening book and 122 last year.
“I know it is his third year, but I think we have more mares coming to him this year than we did last year,” he said.
“That is a good sign because breeders have seen his progeny. They are so good looking.”
Just six of Trapeze Artist’s first foals hit the weanling market earlier this year, selling to a top of $330,000, before the majority of his crop are unleashed at the 2022 yearling sales.
“They looked so good, we said ‘no, we will wait and sell mine at the yearling sales’,” Vieira said.
“There will be a nice lot for sale at the Magic Millions and Inglis next year.
“In his first year I got 50 of my own mares to produce Trapeze Artist foals and I have 64 mares (in foal).
“I have backed him; I believe in him, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it, would I? I believe in him very strongly.
“He is still the best (unproven) stallion on the market. He is the heir apparent (to Snitzel).”
Vieira has strong racing hand
While Vieira has plenty to look forward to with his ever-growing bloodstock portfolio, headed by Trapeze Artist, it is his racing division which could pay more immediate elite-level dividends with a promising group of rising two- and three-year-olds with trainers in Sydney and Melbourne.
Leading the charge could be the Gary Portelli-trained Sky Command (Deep Field), an unbeaten filly, who could reappear in The Rosebud (Listed, 1100m) at Randwick on Saturday week.
Sky Command won impressively at Warwick Farm and Randwick respectively in June and July before being given a freshen up with the spring in mind.
Vieira says plans are afoot for Sky Command to contest the three-year-old Darley Princess Series races as a lead-up to the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), a race Trapeze Artist won by four and a quarter lengths in the spring of 2017.
“Sky Command had two trials, one on a dry track and one on a heavy track. On a dry track she won by a couple of lengths, on a heavy track she came second or third. Look what she’s done on a heavy track on race day. She did it easily, so what will she do on a dry track?
“She is running on August 7 in a Listed race and two weeks later she goes to the Group 2 (Silver Shadow), then there’s another Group 2 (Furious Stakes) and then there is the Golden Rose.”
He also has high hopes for Sky Castle (Capitalist), an erratic winner at Muswellbrook in late April, and Heavenly Field (Deep Field) who was placed in March and runner-up in a Rosehill barrier trial weeks ago.
“Last year, I only kept four fillies and out of the four fillies I have got Sky Command and Sky Castle, who won her first race over 1000 metres, but she ran about 1300 metres because she ran off the track. She still won because she was that fast.
“Heavenly Field will be racing in about two weeks’ time. I kept four and those three are really nice.
“This year, I ended up keeping nine yearlings because I have my favourites like (mare) Gai’s Choice. I have a couple of new trainers as well: Annabel Neasham and Mick Price, so I have about six trainers.
“I have kept six colts and three fillies and they are beautiful. There is a Russian Revolution, a Capitalist, a Snitzel, Trapeze Artist’s full-brother, a Vancouver, a Sebring, a Pride Of Dubai and a Street Boss.”
Vieira never envisaged his love of racing would see him amass such a large number of horses, which is edging closer to 300.
“I am a problem child and how many I have depends if you ask after this year’s foals,” he said.
“I have got about 80 mares, so every time they foal down it adds about 50 to 60. I have about 280 all up.
“I think I am dreaming sometimes. I need Trapeze Artist to keep doing his job for me, so I can afford to be so silly with this.
“But I just love racing. I do love winning. Winning is unsurprisingly a lot better than losing.”