Valiant Artorius gives another sterling performance in UK Group 1
Sam Freedman eyes Maurice de Gheest after second placed effort of European campaign in July Cup at Newmarket
It was a sense of deja vu – and probably not for the first time – for connections of Artorius (Flying Artie) as the colt again ran a valiant race to run on into third in a Group 1 contest, this time in yesterday’s July Cup (Gr 1, 6f) at Newmarket.
As he was for his European debut in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot last month, Artorius was dropped out to the rear of the field by his rider Jamie Spencer, but made late ground to chase the leaders spotted four lengths ahead of him, only to be denied by a shortening two lengths at the line.
The Andrew Balding-trained Alcohol Free (4 f No Nay Never – Plying by Hard Spun), who finished ninth in the Platinum Jubilee, came clear on the far side to turn the tables on Ascot winner Naval Crown (Dubawi) and win by a length and a half.
Co-trainer Sam Freedman was philosophical in his verdict on the race, commending the consistency of Artorius’ performances, with this his fourth placing in a Group 1 contest.
“Frustrating is the wrong word because he always runs very well and frustrating is a word for a horse that mixes his form,” Freedman said.
“He ran exactly as I expected him to. He just needs them to come to him a little bit and today it probably wasn’t the easiest thing to do to make a lot of ground.
“I do think he’s met two very quickly-run six furlongs on unfamiliar tracks for him. A flatter track and they might not go as quick here. When they came down that hill, he was all at sea.”
Artorius was visibly uneased by the undulating Newmarket July course, his momentum stopped in his tracks as he emerged from the dip back up to the crest of the rise.
“I thought he ran a credible race,” Spencer said. “The contours of this track don’t really suit a hold-up horse. The two I tracked got two lengths on me at the top of the hill and I just couldn’t go with them, but when I met the rising ground he really finished off strongly.”
Prior to yesterday’s Group 1 sprint a trip to France for next month’s Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr 1, 1300m) at Deauville was mooted by connections and Freedman, who heads back to Australia today, was only encouraged by the prospect of extending the horse’s European campaign.
“He’s got scope to get over a little bit further. The 1300 metres over there, maybe there’s the chance for him to get a little bit closer and be in his comfort zone and he can have a bit more of a sprint,” Freedman said, conceding that the August 7 race could see Artorius bypass the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) in October.
“I don’t think he’ll be ready for the Golden Eagle if he goes to the Maurice de Gheest, but potentially that sprint at the end of the carnival (Champion Sprint).”
The tale for the home contingent was a magical weekend for winning jockey Rob Hornby, who just 24 hours after riding his first domestic Group 1 winner when Prosperous Voyage (Zoffany) downed the colours of the previously unbeaten Inspiral (Frankel) with a shock success in the Falmouth Stakes (Gr 1, 1m), was celebrating his second elite-level victory after Alcohol Free carried the colours of Jeff Smith to July Cup glory, becoming the first filly to take out the race since Fleeting Spirit (Invincible Spirit) in 2009.
“It’s crazy really,” Hornby said after he became the first rider to complete the Falmouth/July Cup double since Johnny Murtagh back in 2004. “Well done to the filly. She has been an absolute star for Mr [Jeff] Smith who has been a great supporter of the sport for so long.”
So long in fact, that Smith, who has enjoyed great sprinting success with the likes of Lochsong (Song) and Lochangel (Night Shift) over the years, was celebrating his first victory in the July Cup since Chief Singer (Ballad Rock) triumphed way back in 1984.
A winner three times previously at Group 1 level, most recently when successful in the last year’s running of the Sussex Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Glorious Goodwood, Alcohol Free has now won six of her 14 starts.