TRAPEZE Artist’s grip on favouritism for the $13 million The TAB Everest goes on the line when he resumes in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The brilliant Gerald Ryan-trained sprinter has been at the top of Everest betting since he scored successive Group 1 wins in the TJ Smith Stakes and All Aged Stakes last autumn.

But the impressive return to racing of last year’s Everest winner Redzel in the Concorde Stakes at Royal Randwick last Saturday resulted in him firming into $5 with TAB Fixed Odds and pressing for Everest favouritism behind Trapeze Artist at $4.50.

Top jockey Tye Angland, the regular rider of Trapeze Artist, concedes the Theo Mark Stakes will be a test for the $3 million earner.

“This will be a strong enough race to see how Trapeze Artist is going,’’ Angland said.

“There are some very good horses in the race — this is not an easy ‘kill’ — but he is regarded as one of the topliners himself now and I’m sure he will run well.’’

The Theo Marks Stakes has attracted 14 quality entries, including Group 1 winners D’Argento, Daysee Doom, Foxplay and Shillelagh, and talented sprinters Siege Of Quebec, Home Of The Brave, Don’t Give A Damn and Noire.

Ryan has given Trapeze Artist two barrier trials in recent weeks to prepare for the entire’s return to racing.

Angland has been taken by Trapeze Artist’s physical improvement since his three-year-old season.

“He’s grown that little bit more,’’ Angland said.

“He’s always been a solid horse, but he has filled out in the right places and his coat looks nice. Obviously he is going to improve with the run, but he looks good into his first-up run.’’

Ryan has scheduled two lead-up runs for Trapeze Artist into the $13 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

The brilliant four-year-old stallion will also contest the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) on Epsom Day two weeks before racing The Everest.

Angland is in the enviable position of also having the spring carnival ride on outstanding stayer Ace High, who covered extra ground but was brave in defeat when second to Unforgotten in the Chelmsford Stakes last Saturday.

Ace High is being well prepared for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double and is likely to have his next start in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 15.

“I’ve said the last few months that I’m hoping these two horses, Ace High and Trapeze Artist, can take me to the next level this spring,’’ Angland said.

“Ace High had a tough run in the Chelmsford but it was good to see him step up and fight on for the second place.

“It showed to me that he is really going very well,’’ Angland added.

THE EVEREST

Royal Randwick, October 13

$4.50 Trapeze Artist

$5 Redzel

$7 Vega Magic

$8 Kementari, Nature Strip

$11 In Her Time

MASTER Ash has to take on the unbeaten The Autumn Sun, Santos clashes with Graff and a host of other top three-year-olds, and Siege Of Quebec is up against a star-studded field including triple Group 1 winners Trapeze Artist an D’Argento.

But Adrian Bott, who trains in partnership with Hall of Famer Gai Waterhouse, said the stable is confident emerging trio Master Ash, Santos and Siege Of Quebec will more than hold their own at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The impressive Master Ash, coming off his last start Up And Coming Stakes win, lines up in the Stan Fox Stakes (1500m), Santos resumes in the Run To The Rose (1200m), and Siege Of Quebec contests the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m), all Group 2 races with prizemoney of $200,000.

“Master Ash is ticking over beautifully, he is a colt we have a very high opinion of and he showed his quality last start,’’ Bott said.

“We gave Santos and Siege Of Quebec that exhibition gallop last Saturday at the races and both horses are pleasing us at home.

“Santos is an exciting colt and Siege Of Quebec was very good first-up, he’s obviously improved with run and although he is in a tricky race, he can go well.’’

Bott was speaking after the Rosehill barrier trials session on Monday morning where outstanding mare English continued her campaign towards the $13 million The Everest with second placing in a 895m heat.

“I thought it was a lovely trial from English and she still has a lot of improvement to come,’’ Bott said.

“She was not going to catch the winner (Ef Troop), he is race fit and very fast, and she wasn’t out there to try and break records.

“The trial will bring her along nicely as she heads towards The Shorts (September 15).’’

BOUND FOR EVEREST GLORY?
BOUND For Nowhere’s breakthrough Group 1 win in America has the sprinter back in contention for a start in the $13 million The Everest.

The Australian Turf Club, which still has a slot for The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 13, contacted trainer Wesley Ward last night after learning of Bound For Nowhere’s win in the Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs.

Ward was very keen to send Bound For Nowhere to Sydney after the sprinter’s close third to Merchant Navy in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes but could not attract any slot-holder interest.

ATC officials are waiting on word from Ward whether he will consider an Everest start for Bound For Nowhere or aim the sprinter at the US Breeders Cup series instead.

It would be a real coup for the ATC if they can secure a second international runner for The Everest, particularly a US-trained sprinter.

U S Navy Flag, trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien and winner of the Group 1 July Cup in England last start, is the first northern hemisphere-trained horse to contest The Everest.

O’Brien will send U S Navy Flag into quarantine on Friday with the sprinter due to arrive in Sydney on the weekend of the Golden Rose (September 22).

The Irish training genius, who has never had a starter in Sydney before, is understood to be sending out at least one other horse as a travelling companion for US Navy Flag.

In other Everest news, confirmed starter Shoals resumes in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

There are 13 entries for the feature sprint including Darren Weir’s boom sprinter Nature Strip, who is chasing his fourth successive win and a potential Everest slot.