Brilliant Flying Artie colt Artorius again flew the flag proudly for Australia in the Group I Darley July Cup (6f) at Newmarket, surging home for third behind outstanding mare Alcohol Free and Naval Crown, who won the Group I Platinum Jubilee Stakes at his previous run.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman trained three year-old is thriving in the UK, although connections felt he did not enjoy the unfamiliar undulating track at Newmarket.
Joint-trainer Sam Freedman said: "Jamie [Spencer, jockey] said the ground was very quick and he was out of his comfort zone coming down the hill, which put a bit of a space on him. When he hit the rising ground he was into his work again. He's never run on a track like this and it was a good effort.
"He's a three-year-old weighted as a four-year-old, which is a tall order, and there's every chance we'll come back next year when he'll be better weighted.
"He's run up to his form at Royal Ascot with the other horses filling the places and we may well go for the Prix Maurice de Gheest next, but we'll see how he is after the race."
Already a Group I winner in Australia of the MRC Blue Diamond Stakes last season at two, Artorius runs for Newgate, China Horse Club and partners and has won over $1.8 million in prizemoney.
His sire Flying Artie covered his biggest ever book of 201 mares at Newgate last spring and among them was Gracie’s Lass, the dam of Artorius.
Flying Artie stands at a fee of $22,000 this spring.
