The $1.5 million, Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes has been won by the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Artorius in an absolute thriller.
The manner in which Artorius gamely stuck to his task to gain the win when it seemed, at best, he might run on into a minor placing means that the can be no excuse for any beaten runner.
Back in the pack early and seemingly still stuck behind horses as the real challenges kicked into gear in the straight, Luke Currie kept the son of Flying Artie’s mind on the job when horses were exploding into action all around him.
The favourite Enthaar set the early gallop, but she could not get away from them in the straight where the opposition were lining up to wait for a sign of weakness which came inside the final 100m with Enthaar being swamped late.
General Beau looked likely to threaten but did not follow through. Finance Tycoon was quickly on the scene but, equally as quickly, gave way to the faster finishing Ingratiating, who looked all over the winner until Currie, who had extricated Artorius from the roadblock and who now had the colt at full stretch, brought his mount through with that race winning effort.
It was a stunning effort against some very good two-year-olds and was certainly a performance befitting of achieving success in a race of this stature.
“I thought he was a chance in the straight, but he had sort of raced a bit on and off,” said jockey Luke Currie.
‘I knew he was getting a good run through, but I thought he might struggle late because he hadn’t really had the chance to quicken, but he just kept coming.
“It was an amazing feeling the last bit.
“I missed this day last year. I had a fall the night before, so it’s been a much better weekend than it was this time last year.
“It makes it all worthwhile.”
