Saturday summary: Artorius enhances stallion credentials, Communist and Legarto impressive

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Artorius swoops on return to Australia to land second Group 1

After an overseas raid that saw him accumulate another two placings at Group 1 level, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt Artorius (Flying Artie) announced his return to Australia in the best possible fashion with a dynamic victory in the G1 Canterbury S. at Royal Randwick on Saturday, further enhancing his stallion credentials in the process.

Produced to perfection by Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton, who enjoyed a Group 1 double on the day, Artorius showed his trademark electric turn of foot to run down multiple Group 1-winning mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) late in the piece, with the Kiwi raider all over the winner at the furlong pole.

Electric Girl (Declaration Of War {USA}) edged out last year’s G1 Caulfield Guineas hero Golden Mile (Astern) to claim third, 1l behind the winner.

Co-trainer Anthony Freedman revealed after the race that it hadn’t been plain sailing for Artorius since he returned from overseas, but a first-time visor and a concerted effort to keep him alert during the preliminaries had the desired effect on the 4-year-old entire.

“He came home and he wasn't doing that great, but the last three or four weeks we've been really happy with him. He turned up in great order here today,” Freedman said.

“We changed a few things and we've also learned now you've just got to do that with him pre-race - get him active because he just sort of falls asleep. Zac (Purton) did that very well today, he was just that two or three lengths closer.

“Zac is a world-class jockey and most of the instructions were to keep him moving, keep him active. Don't just do what you normally do and sit around, walk around in circles and he falls asleep. He did that really well.

“The start is everything to this horse, if he starts you can win.”

Having won the G1 Blue Diamond S. as a 2-year-old, Saturday’s success was a second at Group 1 level for Artorius, who could now possibly bid for a third top-level victory in the G1 TJ Smith S. next month.

Artorius was a $120,000 purchase by his trainers and Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was purchased by the Newgate Farm-China Horse Club colt’s syndicate in the wake of his emphatic G1 Blue Diamond S. win as a juvenile.

He is one of two winners from two foals to race out of the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Gracie’s Lass, who is a half-sister to G1 Darley Classic hero Delectation (Shamardal {USA}), and is the best-performed son of his G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes-winning sire Flying Artie, who is stood by Artorius’ part-owners Newgate Farm.

The stallion was handed his third Group 1 performer as recently as last weekend, with his progressive daughter Asfoora running a top race to finish third behind Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the G1 Oakleigh Plate.

First Group 1 winner for Russian Revolution

On a terrific day for Newgate Farm, last year’s Champion First Season Sire Russian Revolution sired a breakthrough Group 1 winner as his son Communist showed his rivals a clean pair of heels to win the G1 Randwick Guineas, a victory that also handed visiting jockey Zac Purton a memorable Group 1 double on his return to Sydney.

The Michael Freedman-trained Communist was given a peach of a ride by Purton, who settled the gelding in mid-field before ambling up to the leaders at the 300-metre mark. Communist then put the race to bed in impressive fashion, accelerating right the way through the line to beat Lindermann (Lonhro) by 1.3l, with Zou Tiger (Zoustar) another 0.5l back in third.

Freedman revealed in his post-race comments that Communist, who could now be set on a path to the G1 Doncaster H., hasn’t always been the easiest horse to train, and the trainer was visibly delighted to get a major winner for a group of loyal owners.

“Obviously I'm rapt with the result, more so for the people that are involved with this horse. They've been very staunch owners of mine.

“He hasn't been the easiest horse so far, he's been a bit quirky, but I think he's got a bit of a future. He's been a bit of a problem child for a while, but I'd had a lot of faith in his ability and his work on Monday at Hawkesbury was first class.

“There's probably a lot of options to have a look at, he could be a lightweight Doncaster horse. His record at the mile here at Randwick is second to none. He ran a narrow placing in the Dulcify and a narrow placing behind Golden Mile in the big race (Callander Presnell) in the spring. I think he's got a pretty good future.”

As for Purton, who enjoyed a clean sweep of the two Group 1s in Sydney having partnered Artorius to victory earlier in the day, the jockey was quick to address rumours that a permanent return to Australia could be on the cards in the coming months.

“I must admit, I have enjoyed my time here,” he said.

“It has been great to see everyone again, it's been a beautiful day, everyone has been warm and welcoming, so I've appreciated that. But we love Hong Kong too.

“I'm not going to say no, I'm not going to say yes. I'm non-committal at the moment. I think by the end of April I'll know where I'm at.”

Communist’s Group 1 breakthrough will come as hugely welcome news for Vinery Stud, who are set to sell his yearling full brother during the second session of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale on Monday as Lot 314.

Purchased for $160,000 by Michael and Richard Freedman from the Sledmere Stud draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Communist is out of the stakes-placed Northern Meteor mare Capadoccia, who is a half-sister to a pair of Group 1 performers in G1 Goodwood H. scorer Zip Zip Aray (Bellotto {USA}) and G1 Sangster S. runner-up Zipanese (Bellotto {USA}).

Cappadocia herself is out of Eastern Charm (King’s High), who is a half-sister to the dam of Widden Stud stallion Nicconi and his champion sibling Niconero (Danzero).

Russian Revolution, meanwhile, has already sired six stakes winners from his first two crops and sits comfortably at the top of the Leading Second Season Sire standings. The son of Snitzel has 15 lots set to go under the hammer at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, which gets underway on Sunday.

Kiwi filly sprouts wings to land drama-filled Australian Guineas

New Zealand filly Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) came from the clouds to secure a first Group 1 win on Australian soil for husband-and-wife training partnership Ken and Bev Kelso in an action-packed G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington.

The fairytale result for the Kelsos was marred by an incident which caused Maximillius (Written Tycoon) and Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) to fall near the 300-metre mark, with both horses thankfully getting to their feet.

The Victorian Jockeys' Association reported that Mark Zahra (Maximillius) appeared to have escaped injury and walked back to the jockeys' room, while Ethan Brown (Holymanz) was transported to hospital for observation.

Legarto’s win also secured yet another feature race win for red-hot jockey Michael Dee, who rode a treble on the day just a week after guiding Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) to victory in the G1 Blue Diamond S.

An emotional Ken Kelso was full of admiration for his filly during his post-race interview, beaming with pride after training the first New Zealand 3-year-old to win the G1 Australian Guineas.

“She's just an amazing filly and probably 100 metres out you thought you were going to run fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, to be lucky,” Kelso said.

“She does things other horses can't do and she's pretty special.

“We weren't going to retire until we got a Group 1 in Australia. We've only ever bought Group 1 horses over here and we've run about three seconds.

“It's massive. We just can't believe it.”

Kelso indicated that his stable star would likely head for a well-earned spell following Saturday’s gutsy success, with the co-trainer eyeing a return to Australian soil to target some of the feature races during the Melbourne spring carnival.

Purchased by Ancroft Stud at Book 2 of the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Legarto commanded NZ$90,000 as a yearling. She is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir, who currently holds a commanding lead over multiple Champion Sire Savabeel in the New Zealand Sires’ Premiership.

Seven of Proisir’s 11 stakes winners have come this season in a landmark year for the son of Choisir, who has four Group 1 winners to his name and stood last year’s breeding season at a fee of NZ$17,500 (Plus GST).

Smart too Sharp for his rivals in Derby triumph

The Team Rogerson trained Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) anointed himself as New Zealand’s dominant 3-year-old male in Saturday’s G1 New Zealand Derby at Te Rapa, justifying short-priced favouritism with Ryan Elliot aboard.

Settled in midfield by Elliot, Sharp ‘N’ Smart trucked along nicely before making a move to obtain a handier position approaching the 600-metre mark. The last-start Group 1 winner charged to the front rounding the home turn and was briefly challenged by Full Of Sincerity (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}), who clung on gamely for third, but Sharp ‘N’ Smart held his rivals at bay to beat Andalus (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) by 0.4l.

“This is good for the team as he is not an easy horse,” winning co-trainer Graeme Rogerson told the NZ Racing Desk.

“I said to Ryan to watch him as he can switch off, as he did in the VRC Derby.

“I think potentially he could be the best horse we have had in New Zealand for a long time.”

Rogerson advised that his stable star could return to Australia for a two-pronged assault on Sydney’s autumn carnival, with a tilt at both the G1 Australian Derby and G1 Queen Elizabeth S., both at Randwick, in the offing for the son of Redwood (GB). The trainer is also eyeing an audacious tilt at the G1 Hong Kong Vase over 2000 metres at Sha Tin later in the year.

Winning jockey Ryan Elliot was full of praise for both his mount and the team who prepared to Sharp ‘N’ Smart to win his third career Group 1.

“We got a nice position early and tucked in behind, before we got some clear air and came into it nicely,” he told the NZ Racing Desk.

“He is just a big kid with so much to learn, as coming up the straight he was waiting but then saw the other horses and kicked back strongly.

“I really have to thank Graeme (Rogerson) as he has been huge in my career as he has brought me a long way and given me some great opportunities.”

Sharp ‘N’ Smart is the best performer by Westbury Stud’s Redwood, a son of High Chaparral (Ire) and the sire of 11 individual stakes-winners.

An NZ$55,000 purchase by Rogerson Bloodstock from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2021 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.

Passive Aggressive nails Eduardo in last-gasp Challenge win

Pinecliff Racing’s Jonathan Munz dominated the finish to the G2 Challenge S. at Randwick on Saturday, but not in the order the market had anticipated, with progressive filly Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) upsetting The Everest winner Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in a close photo with Group 1 winner Eduardo (Host {Chi}), to take her record to five wins from six starts.

The lightly raced mare, who has been placed to perfection by trainer Grahame Begg, got up in the shadows of the post under Jordan Childs to deny Eduardo by the narrowest of margins, a victory made all the more impressive given it came on her first start since suffering the only defeat of her career in the G3 Cockram S. back in August.

Eduardo went down on his sword in his bid to win the Group 2 contest for the third successive year, while Giga Kick lost no admirers with his effort, making up plenty of ground from the rear of the field to finish 1.4l behind the winner in third.

Having landed the Listed Creswick S. at the end of her first racing preparation, Saturday’s Challenge S. success was a first at Group level for the daughter of Fastnet Rock, who could now bid for a first elite level success in either the G1 The Galaxy H. or G1 TJ Smith S.

“That was a great effort because she hasn't run for six months. She's a bloody good filly,” said a delighted Begg.

“She loves having a bit of bite in the ground. That was the idea why we missed the Melbourne autumn to come up here and get that softer ground.

“She's a very understated mare. It's only her sixth start in a race and to go to a Group 2 weight for age against very good, accomplished horses is a great effort.

“There's obviously The Galaxy, hopefully the TJ Smith maybe in a month's time so we'll work it out from here. But we'll look after the horse, get her home, let the dust settle and make a plan.”

The beautifully bred Passive Aggressive, who was purchased by Dean Hawthorne on behalf of Jonathan Munz's Pinecliff Racing for $500,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, hails from a prolific black type family.

She is a sister to the Group 3-winning, Group 1-placed mare Missrock (Fastnet Rock), who was sold for a sale-topping $2.3 million to the bid of John and Jake Warren at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2019.

The pair are among six winners from six foals to race out of the Group 3 winner Miss Judgement (Strategic), who is a half-sister to four stakes horses, most notably G1 Oakleigh P. winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym). The quartet also includes Group 3-winning pair Fifth Avenue Lady (Encosta De Lago) and Aussies Love Sport (Redoute’s Choice).

Passive Aggressive is bred on one of Fastnet Rock’s most potent crosses, with the Coolmore stallion boasting a 100 per cent winning strike rate and a 40 per cent stakes winners to runners strike rate when crossed with mares by Strategic.

Benedetta Sprints away at Flemington

The stock of classy filly Benedetta continues to rise after the daughter of Hellbent exploded down the centre of the track to turn a competitive looking Inglis Sprint into a procession at Flemington on Saturday.

Settled towards the rear of the field by Daniel Stackhouse, Benedetta travelled powerfully throughout the 1200-metre event and produced a devastating turn of foot to beat Group 2 winner Paris Dior (Pierro) by 3l, with another 1.8l back to Insurrection (Russian Revolution) in third.

Benedetta had been quietly putting a picket fence together as her trainer Jason Warren brought her steadily through the grades, winning her previous three starts impressively in the lead up to Saturday’s lucrative $750,000 contest.

The 3-year-old filly had also put the writing on the wall with an eye-catching jump-out behind The Everest winner Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) at Balnarring last week, and winning jockey Daniel Stackhouse is confident that connections have a seriously talented individual on their hands.

“She’s probably one of the best (I’ve ridden), I think,” he told Racing.com. “The feel she just gave me was goosebumps.

“She’s so electrifying and the way she did it and how easy she did it was quite scary. She’s got a very bright future and keeps raising the bar every time she goes out there.

“First time up the straight for them is always a bit daunting, but the way she did it today was very professional.”

Benedetta is another notable winner on the eve of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, having been bought at the 2021 edition of Victoria’s flagship auction for $75,000 by Lawrence Eales.

The filly looks to have every chance of becoming the second stakes horse from as many runners for the Group 2-placed Domesday mare Whatalovelyday, who has already produced a Group placegetter of her own in the shape of Whatafox (Foxwedge).

Nonconformist lands All-Star Mile wildcard for Begg

On a memorable day for Victorian trainer Grahame Begg, evergreen 6-year-old Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since September 2021 in Saturday’s G2 Blamey S. at Flemington.

The son of the late Rebel Raider had never won first-up in six previous attempts, and that statistic wasn’t expected to change on Saturday, but the multiple Group 1 placegetter put his best foot forward to record his sixth career win under Harry Coffey.

It was the second stakes winner on the day for the Begg stable, with Passive Aggressive having scored in the G2 Challenge S. in Sydney earlier in the afternoon.

Jumping from barrier six, Coffey settled Nonconformist mid-field on the rail while race-favourite Gentleman Roy (So You Think {NZ}) took up his usual front-running role. The gelding unleashed and sustained a run from the 300-metre mark to record a winning margin of 2.25l over Pounding (Exceed And Excel), with Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) a further 0.5l away in third.

The victory means Nonconformist will be offered a wildcard into The All-Star Mile at The Valley on March 18, however, connections have not committed to running in the $5 million feature as the original plan revolved around a tilt at the G1 Australian Cup.

Winning jockey Harry Coffey was effusive in his praise for the multiple stakes winner and was quick to thank Begg for giving him the leg up on a horse of Nonconformist’s calibre.

“I think he exceeded everyone's expectations including Grahame's, so it is great that everyone can see the old horse back,” he said.

“His last preparation was probably all about going towards the Caulfield Cup and it didn't eventuate, but today's performance looks like he's back and when he performs like that, he could probably reach any heights he likes.

“It's awesome to get on a horse like him and awesome to ride him very well. I must admit we got a lovely run throughout.

“I don't know what is going to happen now. I'll have to try and keep Jordie Childs off him with him being in Sydney on Grahame's filly there.”