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By Ray Hickson

Tye Angland is excited by the prospect of classy colt Trapeze Artist being aimed at The Everest later this year.

Jockey Tye Angland is confident Trapeze Artist can confirm himself an Everest contender at Royal Randwick on Saturday. (Pic: Steve Hart).

The in-form jockey was part of the inaugural Everest in 2017, riding Fell Swoop, and while he finished at the tail it’s a build-up and a race he’s keen to be a part of again.

So Angland wants to send last start TJ Smith Stakes winner Trapeze Artist to the paddock with a third Group 1 win this season in the $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick and have him in prime position to secure one of the 12 slots.

“You look at where he is at the moment and you’d think he’s definitely a live chance,’’ Angland said.

“And if you go into a race like that with a live chance it is very satisfying for everyone involved. Hopefully we can get him there well and give it a crack.

“It will be exciting to see how he comes back to try and win the richest sprint race in the world.’’

The original plan of owner Bert Vieira was to send the colt to stud but in the days after the TJ he had a change of heart and will chase an Everest berth with the prizemoney pool lifting to $13 million for 2018.

It won’t be too long before the 12 slot holders begin to make their move for this year.

Trapeze Artist's trainer Gerald Ryan prepared Deploy who ran ninth in last year’s Everest, with the track record breaking sprinter competing in fellow Rosehill trainer Chris Waller’s slot.

Inaugural winner Redzel and In Her Time will clash again in Brisbane next month before being set for the Everest, Viddora begins her autumn in Adelaide this Saturday and last year’s runner-up Vega Magic is also close to returning to press his claims for another shot.

On the back of his defeat of the nation’s best sprinter Redzel in the TJ Smith, Trapeze Artist is a clear $2.25 All Aged favourite with TAB.

Last year’s Everest third placegetter Brave Smash is second favourite at $8.50.

And the TJ win makes him very appealing to slot holders, especially if he backs it up with another victory against older horses on Saturday.

It’s an unusual market position for the three-year-old to be in – after both his Group 1 wins words to the effect of ‘Trapeze Artist causes upset’ have been seen in the headlines.

Angland said he’s entitled to be the horse to beat and really can’t fault what he’s achieved this season.

“When he’s won he’s been very dominant and on his day when he turns up he’s very classy,’’ he said.

“He’s at his best when he has a bit of momentum and there’s a bit of speed in the race he can slowly build up his revs.

“I’ll work out where I want to be and ride the race how it unfolds.’’

Trapeze Artist accounts for Everest winner Redzel in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 7

In the TJ Smith, Trapeze Artist produced outstanding sectionals in his impressive win over Redzel – Punters Intel shows he ran 33.33 for his last 600m and also clocked clearly the best last 200m of 11.35.

Angland said the makeup of the All Aged gives him plenty of reason to be confident.

“There’s a handful of horses coming back in distance which isn’t ideal but a lot of horses overcome it,’’ he said.

“When they are coming back from a mile to 1400m they can lose a bit of speed in their legs. We are coming up in trip, he can run the 1400m and when you look at it he looks very well placed.’’

Some comments from Angland on a few of his other rides at Randwick:

Dissolute ($6, APN Outdoor Handicap): “It was a good strong win at Rosehill midweek. He’s stepping up to Saturday grade but I believe he’s racing well and he knows what his job is.’’

Dothraki ($2.70, Hall Mark Stakes): “He’s a bit of a tricky old horse but I think he’s falling into well placed races. They are keeping him fresh and over the shorter trips and he’s starting to appreciate it.’’

Interlocuter ($6.50, JRA Plate): “He hasn’t been beaten far, a few people have been a little hard on him probably because of how well he performed going through his grades last prep.

“Now he’s getting to his best trip he can be competitive.’’

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's meeting at Royal Randwick