Race Result:

1st: Artorius (A&S Freedman/Z Purton) - $9.50
2nd: Imperatriz (M Walker/J McDonald) - $2.10F
3rd: Electric Girl (M, W & J Hawkes/Z Lloyd) - $11

Winning Time: 1:15.93 Last 600m: 34.12

Margins: Head x ¾L

 

Artorius pips Imperatriz at the post in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes.@zpurton is back in town, claiming Group 1 glory on home soil! @Chinahorseclub @NewgateFarm @FreedmanRacing pic.twitter.com/X4g3FANqKF

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 4, 2023

Winning Trainer: Anthony and Sam Freedman (Anthony speaking)

On returning from overseas and revving him up pre-race: "He came home and he wasn't doing that great. Just the last three or four weeks we've been really happy with him, he turned up in great order here today."

"Changed a few things and we've also learned now you've just got to do that with him pre-race, get him active because he just sort of falls asleep. Zac did that very well today, he was just that two or three lengths closer."

On booking Zac Purton and pre-race tactics: "I think obviously a world class jockey, I didn't give him too many instructions. Most of the instructions were pre-race, keep him moving, keep him active. Don't just do what you normally do sit around and walk around in circles and he falls asleep, and he did that really well. The start is everything to this horse, if he starts you can win."

TJ Smith next?: "I guess that's where we go, but I'll talk to the team and see what they're thinking."

Winning Jockey: Zac Purton

On the ride: "It felt good. I just had to wait a little bit for the right opportunity and Nash (Rawiller on Golden Mile) held up behind James (McDonald on Imperatriz) and I was hoping to get going a little bit earlier. But when he come out it allowed me to go inside him and get on the back of the favourite. The last 150m he launched, he just jumped out of the ground."

On his quirks: "He's just a bit tricky, he comes with a little bit of baggage but he's obviously very talented."

Beaten Jockeys:

Brenton Avdulla (Cascadian): "He was really good. Gave me a lovely ride. Did everything right. Wasn't blessed with a ton of room from the top of the straight but kept working to the line. In for a good prep."

Chad Schofield (Kirwan's Lane): "I thought he went terrific first up against those horses. When he drops to handicap conditions I think he is going to have a really good prep."

Tim Clark (Converge): "He went well."

Sam Clipperton (Old Flame): "Disappointing first up effort."

James McDonald (Imperatriz): "She was gallant. Tried really hard."

Zac Lloyd (Electric Girl): "Very happy with that effort. She has done very well. Gallant in defeat to only go down a length in that race was a credit to her."

Craig Williams (Argentia): "She had a little up against it from the barrier draw in this class of race. We ended up following the eventual winner. They were just a little bit sharp for her. I thought for the right race at top group level for mares she will acquit herself."

Nash Rawiller (Golden Mile): "He produced like the winner. Probably thought all along the run will improve him. I tried to track up the favourite as long as I could. To be fair he's probably just knocked up the last 100m."