Anthony & Sam Freedman’s internationally-performed sprinter Artorius is back down under racing first-up this weekend as one of the top chances in the 2023 Canterbury Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Dual Group 1 place-getter from the UK last year, Artorius, returns to racing down under in Saturday’s 2023 Canterbury Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Group 1 $600,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) is one of two elite level autumn features on Randwick Guineas Day and has attracted a class field of 11 weight-for-age hopefuls.

Fresh in gate eight with Zac Purton to ride is Flying Artie four-year-old Artorius ($7) who runs in Australia for the first time since his sixth to Roch ‘N’ Horse in Flemington’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in March last year.

He headed overseas after that and was excellent running a length third to Naval Crown at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee (1207m) with a big weight.

Artorius continued to represent Australia well in the UK when third again in the Group 1 July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket before his last start sixth in a Group 1 over 1300m in France last August.

It has been a while between runs but he looked strong with a winning Warwick Farm trial in mid-February, has solid form fresh (4:0-2-1) and can run well at $7 Canterbury Stakes odds online.

Heading the Canterbury Stakes betting markets at an odds-on quote of $1.85 and firming through Ladbrokes.com.au is in-form New Zealand-trained mare Imperatriz. 

The Mark Walker-trained I Am Invincible four-year-old is a 12-time winner from her 17 runs across the Tasman.

She chases her fourth win on the trot in her down under debut off a huge 4.5 length success in a Group 1 over 1400m back home on February 11.

The mare gets the run of the race from gate seven and has the benefit of James McDonald aboard here as she prepares to take on the locals.

Rounding out the single-figure hopes at Canterbury Stakes odds of $6.50 is the James Cummings-trained Golden Mile for the Godolphin stable in gate two with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

The smart Astern colt is out to be the first three-year-old Canterbury Stakes winner since Holler (2016).

He was strong in the spring winning the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) narrowly before taking out the $1 million Group 2 Callander-Presnall over the mile at Randwick.

Fresh he was s distant second in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) but can improve sharply here over further at Randwick with the run under his belt.

At longer odds chasing an upset are the likes of the Hawkes Racing-trained rails-drawn Electric Girl ($11) coming off a first-up win in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill and James Cummings’ other runner Cascadian ($13).

The eight-year-old veteran in the mix Cascadian has his 45^th start on Saturday.

His latest run saw him cross fourth to Amelia’s Jewel in Perth’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) back in early December.

Before that he was under two lengths off Alligator Blood in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington, the form of which was franked with ‘The Gator’ returning to win the Futurity fresh last weekend.

The Canterbury Stakes 2023 is set to run as Randwick Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEDT) with the latest markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available in full by clicking here.

2023 Canterbury Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.