'If we wanted to race for big prize-money we could have stayed at home'

Confidence is building behind top Australian sprinter Artorius's bid for next Saturday's Group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket, where he will aim to improve on his excellent third in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes.

The four-year-old is the only overseas Royal Ascot visitor to stay in Britain for another outing and acquitted himself well last month when dead-heating with Campanelle behind Naval Crown and Creative Force.

Artorius, a Group 1 winner in Australia, is the 7-2 second favourite behind Commonwealth Cup winner Perfect Power for the premier sprint and enjoyed some match practice on the July course under Jamie Spencer on Friday morning.

Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Artorius covered four furlongs with Ancient Times (Hayley Turner), a useful sprint handicapper provided by Harry Eustace to lead the exercise.

Artorius is bidding to become the first Australian-trained sprinter to win the July Cup, with the best previous effort being Choisir's second-place finish behind Oasis Dream in 2003.

Sam Freedman said of the exercise: "We're still here because of the prestige of the July Cup, not the prize-money, and what a win in such a race could do for the stallion CV of Artorius. If we wanted to race for big prize-money we could have stayed at home but that was never our intention."

A notoriously slow starter in his races, Artorius stuck to the script at Ascot where he came late to be beaten just three-quarters of a length.

Freedman said of the July course workout: "He didn't have a hard gallop this morning but quickened it up the last two furlongs and was just hitting top gear crossing the line. He seemed to handle the track which looks stiffer than Ascot.

"Providing he's in touch with them between the three and the two he should be in business. We expect him to finish pretty hard as he usually does."

Artorius warms down after his workout

Artorius took a ticket for a late load at Ascot – to keep him interested at the start, rather than being tricky in the stalls – and he will so again next Saturday.

Freedman added: "He's really enjoyed being over here and his coat has improved since Ascot. If he performs well next Saturday there is a chance he could run in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville."

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