Two-year-old Spywire (Trapeze Artist) was expected to run a big race on debut, and that’s what the colt did. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Spywire found the front early in Race 1 at Rosehill - an 1100-metre maiden - and made it a one-act affair, sprinting stylishly in the run home to prevail by 2.23l under Tyler Schiller.
Canara (I Am Invincible) and Everybody Rise (Snitzel) both ran well on debut, finishing second and third respectively.
Spywire’s win was one of a colt that is going places, and perhaps that destination may be the rich R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast in January.
“That was lovely, very exciting,” Widden Stud supremo, Antony Thompson, who bred and part-owns the colt, told The Thoroughbred Report.
“We’ve always had a nice opinion of him, he only had one trial, so to come out and do that was very impressive.
“They still believe there’s good improvement in him, and we’re dreaming of the Magic Millions, I guess.”
“They (Ciaron Maher Racing) still believe there’s good improvement in him (Spywire), and we’re dreaming of the Magic Millions, I guess.” - Antony Thompson
Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $520,000 for Spywire from the Widden Stud consignment at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, making him the highest-priced Trapeze Artist yearling sold in 2023. He is raced by Ozzie Kheir, John O’Neill, Robert Anderson, Lindsay Caminiti and Ciaron Maher Racing, among others.
The colt races in Kheir’s silks, which were carried to Magic Millions 2YO Classic glory in 2022 by the Maher/Eustace-trained Coolangatta (Written Tycoon).
“I would say that, given who he is raced by and the fact he is Magic Millions eligible, that would be the plan. I think that’s what Ciaron has always had in the back of his mind, he’s said he’s that type of horse,” Thompson explained.
Antony Thompson | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt is from the Listed-winning mare Secret Trail (Denman) and she herself is a half-sister to the stakes performer Hostwin Legend (Red Element), who raced in Hong Kong as Magic Legend.
Spywire is closely related to the stakes winners Gold Trail (Hussonet {USA}) and Trail Of Gold (Danewin).
RMA Bloodstock went to $700,000 to secure Secret Trail at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when offered by Yarraman Park Stud.
“He’s a $520,000 yearling and has always been a very nice colt,” Thompson said of Spywire.
“He’s (Spywire) a $520,000 yearling and has always been a very nice colt.” - Antony Thompson
“The mare I bought in partnership with Robert Anderson, who is a very good client of ours. She was a fairly expensive mare in her own right.”
Secret Trail has a 3-year-old Snitzel filly called Miss Sunshine, who has placed third in her two starts to date, and the mare foaled a Zoustar filly last spring.
“The Snitzel filly has shown a bit and the Zoustar is a smashing filly that will go to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next year, she’s an absolute rockstar.”
Trapeze Artist | Standing at Widden Stud
Spywire’s triumph handed his second-season sire Trapeze Artist his 13th individual winner of the season, and they have combined for 15 wins. Trapeze Artist leads the premiership in that category, with his progeny earning in excess of $2.8 million in 2023/24, highlighted by the G1 Caulfield Guineas hero Griff.
“It was a huge thrill to breed his first Group 1 winner in Griff, which is also trained by Ciaron and David,” Thompson explained.
“He’s doing a great job for us, Trapeze Artist.
“He’s doing a great job for us, Trapeze Artist.” - Antony Thompson
“We retained a small share in this one and that’s very exciting for Robert (Anderson) and myself to be involved going forward.”
Strasbourg off the mark
It was a good day for another young stallion, with Rosemont Stud’s freshman sire Strasbourg - a son of Australia’s champion stallion I Am Invincible - logging his first winner, when Stormbourg scored an impressive debut victory at Ballarat.
The John Moloney-trained colt was Strasbourg’s second runner.
Strasbourg - a winner of the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S. in 2019 - covered 109 mares during his first season in the breeding shed, including Stormbourg’s dam, the three-time winner Graceful Storm (Hinchinbrook).
Stormbourg, a homebred, is closely related to the stakes winners Delago’s Secret (Encosta De Lago) and Montoya’s Secret (High Chaparral {Ire}), as well as the stakes performer Divine Secret (Thunder Gulch {USA}).
Moloney was full of praise for Stormbourg post-race.
“That’s special,” he told Racing.com.
“That’s special.” - John Moloney
“Congratulations to all the people that got involved with this horse, they bred it, they kept the mother, and they sent her to Strasbourg to produce this horse. He’s just been a lovely horse to deal with from day one and now he’s gone out and been a racehorse.”
