'From a boy to a man' - Australia's Artorius primed for Darley July Cup bid

Artorius has been confirmed as a runner for next month’s Darley July Cup with his Australian connections predicting the three-year-old will have "a huge chance" at Newmarket.

Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Artorius will be partnered again by Jamie Spencer, who was aboard when the pair forced a dead-heat for third in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Artorius is owned by a partnership that includes the China Horse Club and Newgate Stud, whose founder Henry Field said: "Jamie was mad keen to keep the ride and I think he will go into the race with a huge chance. He is lightly raced, he's very talented."

While compatriots Nature Strip - winner of the King’s Stand Stakes - has entered quarantine to return to Australia, and Home Affairs - beaten favourite for the Platinum Jubilee - has been retired, Field is preparing for an extended campaign with Artorius this year and next.

"It will only be a very light spring for him, then we will wind into a strong 2023 with him,” Field told racing.com. "From my point of view, we are trying to make the best commercial decision we can. I feel that horse has so much more to offer.

"He is hopefully turning from a boy to a man and I think he can be a scary horse over the next 12 months in Australia with the maturity this trip brings on."

Field added: "The two races we will give a lot of consideration to will be the Darley Classic or the Golden Eagle."

Artorius is the general 9-2 second favourite for the July Cup, as he bids to become the first horse trained outside Europe to win the Group 1 since Agnes World landed the contest for Japan in 2000.

The likes of Choisir (second to Oasis Dream in 2003), Exceed And Excel (unplaced as favourite in 2004) and Takeover Target (unplaced in 2006 and 2009) have tried to win the race previously for Australia.

Darley July Cup (4.25 Newmarket, July 9)

William Hill: 9-4 Perfect Power, 4 Artorius, 5 Creative Force, 6 Naval Crown, 12 Cadamosto, Highfield Princess, 14 Romantic Proposal, Kinross, 16 bar

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