Former Wagga boy Tye Angland to ride Trapeze Artist in the $13 million Everest

Angland will continue his association with group one winner Trapeze Artist in the feature race at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Angland did not beat a runner home on Fell Swoop in last year’s inaugural Everest but will be legged aboard the $7.00 equal favourite in the second edition.

The 29-year-old is looking forward to taking part in the richest turf race in the world.

“It obviously hasn’t got what the Melbourne Cup’s brought to Australian sport but $13 million, money talks, and it would be life changing to win a race like that,” Angland said.

“Financially, it would be very, very big.

“The concept behind it is so different in that you get to pick and choose your horse, the research you have got to do, the negotiations...it’s something totally different.

“With all the hype, there’s been a lot of publicity, a bit positive and a bit negative over the last couple of days with the Opera House, which has been blown out of proportion, but everyone knows about the race now.”

Trapeze Artist, a four-year-old trained by Gerald Ryan , is a three-time group one winner.

He resumed with a third placing behind Home Of The Brave in the group two Theo Marks (1300m) before running fourth behind Santa Ana Lane in the group two Premiere (1200m) last start.

Angland could not be happier with the horse going into it’s grand final.

“I am, I know that the horse peaks third up,” he said.

“The first up run was good. He had a lot of weight and first-up on a heavy track, he ticked the box.

“Second up, it was probably the best second up run of his career so that was another tick and he grows a leg third up.”

Trapeze Artist has not won from three starts on heavy tracks but has run third on two of those occasions. Angland is not overly concerned by the rain-affected surface.

“His form reads like he will get through it. He’s not at his best on it but looking at the race, what horse is? It’s a very even race.”

Angland will also team up with former Albury trainer Brett Cavanough in the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko.

The former Wagga schoolboy believes the Kosciuszko is a brilliant concept and would not swap his ride in the race for anything.

“You want a tough seasoned horse that can cope with a high pressure race, a wet track and a big crowd and The Monstar ticks all the boxes for this race,” he said.

“A lot of people asked me to ride their horse in this race so I had to pick and I think The Monstar will be tough to beat. He hasn’t been beaten far by some pretty good horses in his last two races.”

Angland could not be happier with his book of rides on the richest day in Australian racing.

“I was talking to my manager about it and it does look like some good rides on paper. It’s one of those days that I could walk out with a pocket full of coin or my tail between my legs,” he said.

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