There will be stakes action in four states on Saturday led by the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield and the return of some of last seasons most accomplished two-year-olds.
Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside will make his much-anticipated return in the Group III San Domenico Stakes (1100m), held at Kembla Grange, and Blue Diamond Stakes hero Artorius makes his three-year-old debut in the Group III H.D.F McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Both will be sporting the red and yellow silks of the China Horse Club, who, along with Newgate Farm and partners, purchased controlling interest in the star juveniles.
If Stay Inside's Golden Slipper triumph was the performance of the season, the win of Artorius in the Blue Diamond was not far behind.
Coming off a four and a half-length maiden win at Sandown, the son of Flying Artie sprouted wins in the final 200m of the Blue Diamond to defeat two top-class colts in Ingratiating and Anamoe.
That pair chased home Stay Inside in the Golden Slipper, with Artorius finishing a troubled sixth in his two-year-old swansong.
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). She is a daughter of the stakes-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Grace And Power (USA), runner-up in the Grade 1 Hollywood Park Starlet Stakes.
The late Steve Brem purchased Grace And Power for $700,000 on behalf of Perry at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton January Mixed Sale when carrying the Giant's Causeway filly Pocket Power.
Grace and Power (USA) is a descendent of the incomparable La Troienne through her great-granddaughter Priceless Gem (Hail To Reason).
A top-class racemare, Priceless Gem is a sister to Admiring, the dam of Glowing Tribute (Graustark), the dam of 1993 Kentucky Derby winner Sea Hero (Polish Navy) and multiple Grade I winner Hero's Honor (by Northern Dancer) on the way to being honoured as the 1993 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Priceless Gem is also a half-sister to the champion Affectionately (Swaps), dam of 1970 American Horse of the Year Personality (Hail to Reason).
On and off the track, Priceless Gem did not let the family down.
She produced an all-time great in Allez France (Sea Bird), while her unraced son Noble Bijou (Vaguely Noble) was a four-time champion sire in New Zealand and 5-time Champion Broodmare sire.
Gracie's Lass has yearling colt foal by Written Tycoon and was covered by Deep Field last spring.
Flying Artie stands at Newgate Farm this spring at a fee of $33,000 (inc. GST)
