Blue Diamond Under Consideration for Flying Artie's Artorius

Mark Smith - Saturday January 23

Minutes after the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained Extreme Choice colt Stay Inside made an explosive debut at Randwick, Anthony and Sam Freedman countered with the Flying Artie colt Artorius who came with a barnstorming finish from the rear of the field to open his winning account over 1300m at Sandown-Hillside.

See ya later - Artorius puts a space on them (George Salpigtidis/Racing Photos)

At his career debut, Artorius looked to be fairly outpointed when second to the Manhattan Rain colt Jigsaw who was made a Breednet One To Watch at Geelong on January 7.

The son of Flying Artie took plenty away from that experience. Given a patient ride by Mark Zahra, Artorius launched down the centre of the track to win running away by four and a half lengths from Foxplay’s three-quarter brother El Rocko (Fastnet Rock).

Godolphin’s Shooting To Win filly Picarones shouldered her topweight into third place, a nose behind El Rocko.

Sam Freedman said the stable would consider freshening Artorius up for the Blue Diamond Stakes. The Group 1 feature at Caulfield was won in 2016 by Extreme Choice from stablemate Flying Artie.

“He took some necessary steps forward from his first run where he was very green and eaw and did not know what he was doing,” Sam Freedman said.

“Our horses tend to improve as they get deeper into their two-year-old campaign. The 1300m suited and he showed a very good turn of foot.

“He is bombproof and very straightforward, almost a little too relaxed.

“First-up he was on and off the bridle, so I think to get him to switch on a little more and have some competitive gallops with him in between runs to teach him whats it all about to hit the front and stay in front.

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“He still had a good gaze there and will take further improvement off that.

Artorius a $120,000 Magic Millions yearling

“We will just have to work out where we go – whether we head towards the Blue Diamond although I’m not sure about the 1200m. he might be more of a 1400m horse, but he won so well there we might have to give it some thought.”

Bred by Greg Perry, Artorius was purchased by Anthony Freedman Racing/Blue Sky Bloodstock P/L (FBAA) for $120,000 out of the Vinery Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He is the second winner from as many to race out of the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Gracie’s Lass.

Also bred by Perry, Gracie’s Lass is a half-sister to the Group 1 VRC Darley Classic winner Delectation (Shamardal) out of the stakes-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare         Grace And Power (USA) who was runner-up in the Grade 1 Hollywood Park Starlet Stakes.

Gracie’s Lass has a colt foal by Written Tycoon and was covered by Deep Field last spring.

Artorius becomes the fourth first-crop winner for Flying Artie. The Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes hero looks to be in a personal battle with his Newgate Farm stablemates Extreme Choice and Capitalist as they try to chase down Shalaa (IRE) for Champion first Crop Sire honours.

Flying Artie

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Race Result - Ladbrokes Switch Hcp 1300m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(4) Time: 1:17.90
1
Artorius
- 2c Flying Artie (AUS) x Gracie's Lass (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 57.5
2
4.5
El Rocko
- 2c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Butters (USA) (El Prado (IRE))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: J Mott 57.5
3
4.6
Picarones
- 2f Shooting To Win (AUS) x Anise (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 59
4
5.3
Pounding
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Silent Entrance (GB) (Beat Hollow (GB))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 57
5
6.1
Tatsuro
- 2c Maurice (JPN) x Sister Souss (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Damian Lane 57
6
6.8
Sunfall
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Queen Of The Falls (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M J Dee 58
7
7.1
That Contageous
- 2c Lonhro (AUS) x Glowing Tribute (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: L Currie 57.5
8
8.9
Shadowheart
- 2c Stratum Star (AUS) x Bisutti (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Jamie Kah 57.5
9
9.1
Madame Solario
- 2f Needs Further (AUS) x Pas De Retraite (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: N A Blackiston Rdr: Jordan Childs 55.5
10
9.8
Awesome Spirit
- 2c Phenomenons (AUS) x Mythical Spirit (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Calthorpe Rdr: Patrick Moloney 57
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