Tye Angland reunites with Trapeze Artist who he piloted to three Group 1 victories
There were emotional scenes on the weekend when top jockey Tye Angland, who was left wheelchair bound after a tragic fall, reunited with champion racehorse Trapeze Artist.
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This was the tender moment when the champion racehorse and jockey were reunited again.
Trapeze Artist, an imposing 600kg-plus thoroughbred stallion, sensed his old friend and lowered his head gently and affectionately into Tye Angland’s lap in a demonstration of their unmistakeable bond.
Angland, who has been left wheelchair-bound after suffering spinal injuries in a race fall, was flown by helicopter to Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley last Friday to meet up with Trapeze Artist.
“To be able to spend that special moment with Trapeze Artist and for Sharon (Chapman, photographer) to capture such a beautiful photo was definitely touching,’’ Angland told The Daily Telegraph.
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“I will be honest, when I first saw the photo I definitely got a bit emotional.
“I might look into it a little bit more than most people but when I zoomed in on (the photo) I saw Trapeze Artist touching me with his hoof and his head bowed with his eyes closed looking sad. It goes to show how special an animal he is.’’
Angland’s wife, Erin, took to social media with just four words that said so much: “Incredible animal. Incredible human.’’
Trapeze Artist was ridden by Angland to win three races at Group 1 level, the Golden Rose, TJ Smith Stakes and All Aged Stakes. He last rode the super sprinter when second to Redzel in The Everest at Royal Randwick last October.
But Angland’s celebrated riding career was ended sadly when the jockey was left a quadriplegic from a race fall in Hong Kong last December. After months of rehabilitation, he now has some upper body movement.
Trapeze Artist has been retired to stud and is due to serve more than 180 broodmares when the spring breeding season starts on September 1.
Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson said Angland “had the best day’’ visiting the famous stud where he was joined by Trapeze Artist’s owner, Bert Vieira.
“It was just great to have Tye here at Widden and when he saw Trapeze Artist again, well it was an unforgettable moment,’’ Thompson said.
“Trapeze Artist seemed to know it was Tye because he walked over and dropped his head into Tye’s lap.’’
Vieira, who is dealing with his own tragic circumstances as his wife, Gai, is still recovering from critical injuries she sustained in a car accident nearly 12 months ago, said Angland and Trapeze Artist have an obvious mutual respect and admiration for each other.
“Tye and ‘Trapeze’ were a great partnership, they have the same initials so I believe they were meant for each other,’’ Vieira said.
“As soon as they saw each other at Widden, you could tell there is something very special between them. I felt proud to be there.’’
Vieira also got the opportunity to inspect Trapeze Artist’s little brother for the first time, a foal born six days ago at Widden Stud.
“The foal is already 64kg so he is going to be a big boy like ‘Trapeze’ and he has the same white blaze on his nose as his older brother,’’ he said.
Vieira spoke to The Daily Telegraph just moments after leaving hospital where he visits his wife daily.
“Gai still can’t speak and she still can’t move,’’ Vieira said.
“But I can see in her eyes that she is aware of what is going on. We have good days and bad days but we will keep going and do what we have to do so we can bring Gai home again.’’
Mrs Vieira continues to make a slow recovery from brain injuries sustained when the Mercedes she was driving was struck in the side by a police vehicle.
The police officer behind the wheel, Senior Constable Harry Thomas Little has pleaded not guilty to a charge of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.