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By Ray Hickson

One colt is a fast learner, the other a real competitor while the filly is a horse more for the future.

Johann Gerard-Dubord (Pic: Bradley Photos)

That’s how Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord describes Artemex, The Next Episode and Spicy Mix respectively – the stable’s three runners in Saturday’s Group 3 $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill.

It's already been a big week for the stable with a Big Dance trifecta on Tuesday and clearly this trio has their share of talent.

Artemex, a $120,000 yearling, had two jump outs at Bong Bong before his only public trial and Gerard-Dubord said he has a real can-do attitude that’s showing whenever he’s asked to do some work.

“He takes everything in his stride which early in the season is very important,’’ he said.

“He’s a mature colt both physically and mentally. His attitude is his biggest asset.

“He only needs one experience and it’s like he knows.”

Nash Rawiller rode the Exceed And Excel youngster in his barrier trial win, at Warwick Farm a week ago, and while the margin was only a neck or so he impressed the stable.

Gerard-Dubord said he went into that trial with the Golden Gift in mind if Artemex, $4 with TAB on Thursday, trialled to Maher’s liking and he certainly did that.

“He couldn’t have trialled any better and I really liked the actual trial, he went back and learned to travel then had to go between horses and quicken late,’’ he said.

“We didn’t get to the bottom of him but at the same time the horse would have learned a lot.

“From a good gate he should get a perfect run and he did show in his trial he has a good turn of foot too.”

Snitzel colt The Next Episode won his barrier trial a week earlier than his stablemate and that came on the back of a jump out in Melbourne that earned him a float trip north.

He was a $2.8 million purchase and Gerard-Dubord said while his barrier isn’t going to help his cause the horse is showing above average ability and a fighting spirit.

“He quickened in his trial impressively and was left in front by himself a long way out,’’ he said.

“Jason (Collett) felt there was a bit more there and he would have learned from that.

“The good thing about him is he’s very competitive, when he’s head to head he wants to win. He’s one of those horses that will fight if he has to.”

The filly Spicy Miss had a gallop alongside The Next Episode on Monday and Gerard-Dubord said she’s not as readymade as the two colts and will benefit from some more time.

She was a $150,000 yearling and won her trial on the same morning as her workmate in 0.13 seconds slower.

“She has plenty of size, what you see now there’s a lot more to come for her,’’ he said.

“Once she got her head in front in the trial she had a bit of look but every time the other horse came at her she had more to give.

“She’s got here because she’s got talent, it’s a good prizemoney race so she deserves her chance.”

A decision on whether both Big Dance placegetters, Vivy Air and Lugh, back up in the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) will be saved for race morning.

Artemex wins a Warwick Farm trial on October 31

Of the pair, Gerard-Dubord said Vivy Air is the most likely to go around again with a dry track potentially seeing Lugh saved for the $1 million The Gong (1600m) in two weeks.

If he does there’s a good chance he’ll meet Big Dance winner and reigning Gong champ Gringotts again in that race, the gelding having pulled up nicely from his second win in Tuesday’s feature.

Johann Gerard-Dubord on Silver Wedding (race 9): “She’s a better mare ridden quieter, we saw last prep at Canterbury she has a good turn of foot, so we will be a bit more conservative. I thought she would go very close (first-up), so probably expected a bit more. It was a very fast track, they ran a track record in the race before and we probably rode the track more than the horse.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill