A welcome back to Sydney for Zac Purton, who weaved his magic on the hugely talented Flying Artie stallion Artorius in Saturday’s Group I ATC Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick.
Having his first start following a European campaign last year, he settled back worse than midfield, before receiving a charmed run through the pack.
The champion New Zealander Imperatriz looked to have the race in her keeping before Artorius launched late and grabbed her on the line to win by a head.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Artorius races for a syndicate headed by Newgate Bloodstock, Newgate SF, Horse Ventures, China Horse Club Racing, and Go Bloodstock.
The 4yo entire returned from a three-month working holiday in Europe, where he placed in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and July Cup at Newmarket before finishing sixth in the Group I Maurice De Gheest at Deauville.
Anthony Freedman said consideration will be given to a start in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes.
“He came home and wasn’t doing that great,” Freedman revealed.
“Just the last three or four weeks, we’ve been really happy with him, and he turned up in great order today.
“We changed a few things, and learned to keep him active before the race because he just sort of falls asleep. Zac did that very well today, he was just that two or three lengths closer.”
Zac Purton said it was a dream return, and everything fell into place.
“It felt good. I just had to wait a little bit for the right opportunity,” he said.
“Nash (Rawiller on Golden Mile) held up behind James (McDonald) on Imperatriz) and I was hoping to get going a little bit earlier. But when he came out, it allowed me to go inside him and get on the back of the favourite. The last 150m he launched, he just jumped out of the ground.”
From the first crop of Newgate Farm’s Group 1 CoolmoreStud Stakes winner Flying Artie, Artorius advances his record to three wins, three seconds, and four thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $2,074,462.
Bred by Greg Perry, Artorius was a $120,000 purchase for Anthony Freedman Racing/Blue Sky Bloodstock P/L (FBAA) from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Gracie’s Lass, a half-sister to the Group I VRC Darley Classic winner Delectation.
Tom Magnier shelled out $1.4million for a Written Tycoon half-brother to Artorius from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and he has been named Oistrachand is in training with Chris Waller.
Gracie’s Lass produced a brother to Artorius last spring.
