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Blue Diamond winner to be paid up for Rosehill Group 1

Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Artorius (Flying Artie) will be paid up for the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Rosehill on March 20 after he galloped in the Sydney direction for the first time over 1050 metres at Randwick on Thursday. 

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained son of Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) was a little green in the early stages and took a bit of time to find his feet, with Harley Street (Exceed And Excel) setting a decent pace up front. 

After coming wide round the bend, Artorius let down impressively to pass most of his rivals and finish a neck behind Harley Street. The time for the 1050 metre trial was 1:03.50. 

Brad Taylor, racing manager for the Freedmans, said the colt would have another hit-out next week. 

“As you saw in the Blue Diamond, he takes a bit of riding to get going,” Taylor said.

“He is a laid back, relaxed horse and only does what he has to but when he’s revved up, he’s pretty good, and that last 200 metres today was very good.

“He still does a bit wrong. He wanted to get on the wrong leg a little bit but he was on the right leg late in the trial.

“He will take plenty of benefit from that and he will have a nice hitout probably on Tuesday or Wednesday next week leading into the race and that will have him spot-on.”

While Artorius was not among the original nominations for Saturday week’s juvenile feature, Taylor confirmed his owners will pay the $150,000 late entry fee to run.

“100 per cent it will be paid on Monday. There will be no hesitation in paying that,” he said.