International sprinter Artorius launched a day to remember for Vinery Stud at the Group 1 Randwick meeting on Saturday.
Artorius (Flying Artie) was bred and sold by Vinery partner Greg Perry for $120,000 at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions and his earnings burst through $2million with an explosive victory in the Canterbury Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m).
Carrying the China Horse Club colours, he arrived just in time under a perfect ride by Hong Kong champion Zac Purton to defeat New Zealand Group 1-winning mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible). Artorius had opened his Group 1 account in the 2021 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and he had been placed twice at that level last year in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and July Cup at Newmarket.
“I bought his second-dam Grace And Power (More Than Ready) in Kentucky in 2009 and she wasn’t cheap at $700,000,” Perry recalled. “She foaled Delectation (Shamardal) first-up and he won the Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic in 2015. Gracie’s Lass (Redoute’s Choice) was her second foal but she was born prematurely and never raced. I thought she might be viable as a broodmare and luckily I kept a share in Artorius when we sold him at the Gold Coast.”
Artorius will be set for the T J Smith Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) at Randwick on April 1 before a return trip to Royal Ascot in June. “He came back home last year and wasn’t doing that great,” co-trainer Anthony Freedman revealed. “But we’ve been happy with him over the three or four weeks. He turned up in great order today and Zac kept him active pre-race so he didn’t go to sleep. That ensured he was two or three lengths closer in running than normal and that made all the difference.”
Forty minutes after the Canterbury Stakes, Freedman’s brother Michael trained China Horse Club-bred graduate Communist (Russian Revolution) to win the Randwick Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m). Vinery had a hand in the win having catalogued his full-brother as Lot 314 for the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling on Monday.
Michael Freedman, who prepared All Too Hard mare Forbidden Love to win last year’s Canterbury Stakes, also booked Purton for Communist who is the first Group 1 winner by Vinery graduate Russian Revolution.
Vinery partner David Paradice completed the Stud’s feature treble when Jal Lei (Sebring) won the Wenona Girl Quality (Gr.3, 1200m) in the stewards room at Randwick. She was second past the post but was promoted after Jump The Broom caused severe interference in the final stages.
Paradice purchased Jai Lei from Segenhoe Stud for $180,000 at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Her dam Lesley’s Choice (Exceed And Excel) has a So You Think (NZ) colt catalogued as Lot 199 at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.