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By Ray Hickson

Globetrotting sprinter Artorius is undergoing a makeover to his racing style and co-trainer Sam Freedman hopes it can be used to claim an overdue Group 1 win this autumn, starting at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Sam Freedman (Pic: Grant Guy).

The four-year-old is known for producing big finishes from back in the field but when you’re racing at Group 1 level it’s rare such a pattern results in repeat wins.

Freedman, who co-trains with his father Anthony, said it was a deliberate move to encourage Artorius to be on the speed in his recent barrier trial win and while he doesn’t expect to be in a similar position in the Group 1 $600,000 Furphy Canterbury Stakes (1300m) he doesn’t want to be right out the back.

“It’s not been the easiest thing to implement at the races,’’ he said.

“We’ve always tried to combat that a little bit but this campaign is the time we want to try and do it so we’ll give it our best on Saturday.

“I flagged that he went in very late in that trial, we kept him moving behind the gates and he began right on terms. We wanted to put him in the trial and make sure he can finish off when he sits closer.

“I don’t think we will be up near the lead by any means but as long as we can be midfield or something like that then we should be running a good race.”

Artorius, $7 third elect in the Canterbury Stakes with TAB on Thursday, hasn’t won since his Group 1 Blue Diamond victory in 2021 but he’s collected six placings including four at Group 1 level.

He campaigned in Europe in their summer and was beaten under a length in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes (1207m) at Royal Ascot and finished two lengths behind Alcohol Free, now in Australia with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, in the Group 1 July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket.

The campaign finished in the Group 1 Prix Maurice De Gheest (1300m) at Deauville in August where he ran sixth.

“That pattern has been his biggest downfall,’’ Freedman said.

“Not many horses are running as big a race as him in Group 1s so consistently but his racing pattern lends itself to being dictated to by pace and track bias.

“He’s come back really well. We pulled the pin on the spring, he’d obviously had a long season in Europe and we got him out of quarantine and just felt he’d benefit from a nice break.

“We gave him a good solid hit out in the trial and he seems forward and ready.”

Expat Zac Purton has the ride on Artorius as the Hong Kong champion jockey makes a cameo appearance back in Sydney and Freedman hopes he can get the best out of the horse having completed his build up with an exhibition gallop last Saturday.

“It’s great to get Zac’s services, he’s one of the world’s best,’’ he said.

“He’s a positive rider and coming back to Sydney for the meeting I’m sure he’s got a point to prove.

“I would like to see them roll at a good tempo, I don’t think he is a sit and sprint horse. He hits a flat spot and then he really gets into his work.

“The 1300m feels like the right trip first-up and it will give us a guide where we go.”

The Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and Group 1 $1.5m All Aged Stakes (1400m) are races that could be in Artorius’ future through the carnival.

Artorius wins a Warwick Farm trial on February 17

Stablemate Argentia was a somewhat surprise inclusion in the Canterbury Stakes as it appeared she had a good hold on the Group 3 Wenona Girl (1200m) at the end of program but Freedman said she’s not out of place on her best form.

The mare also has a backmarker’s pattern but was only 1.65 lengths from the subsequent Oakleigh Plate quinella when she resumed in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Sandown three weeks ago.

“She’s a stakes winner as it is and for her pedigree anything in a Group 1 is going to be of huge benefit,’’ Freedman said.

“The gate makes it difficult, she’s going to be a long way off them, but she’s shown the talent that she can run a big race at this level.

“Hopefully she can run on strongly and run into the placings somewhere.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting