The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Flying Artie colt Artorius was able to go one better than his sire saluting at big odds in a barnstorming finish to take out the 2021 Neds Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

Artorius was enormous late getting up to win the 2021 Blue Diamond Stakes in an upset. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

In 2016 Flying Artie was luckless when second to Extreme Choice in the Group 1 $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).

Half-a-decade later one of his progressive progeny, Artorius, was able to atone for that result taking out the Blue Diamond Stakes at $13 odds.

It was a huge Blue Diamond Stakes result for the stable with co-trainer Sam Freedman celebrating his maiden Group 1 success alongside his father Anthony who won the race back in 2018 with the filly Lyre.

He did it with a colt who he admitted to not thinking much of as a yearling, Artorius an immature young horse that didn’t present as an early hope for a race like the Blue Diamond.

“He was very immature,” Freedman told Racing Victoria after the race.

“I didn’t love him. But we gave him time. Honestly, in the last six months he’s turned into a beast.

“There were shades of his sire there, but he went one better. He’s a son of Flying Artie, so he’s a very valuable horse now.

“To have his (Flying Artie’s) son finish off and go one better is a big thrill.”

Jockey Luke Currie enjoyed a second Blue Diamond triumph for Anthony Freedman guiding Artorius to the three-quarter length upset over the Godolphin-raced Ingratiating ($8.50), the runner-up on the quick back-up off a Black-Type Flemington win last weekend.

Trainer James Cummings also prepared the third-placegetter in the Blue Diamond Stakes trifecta with Anamoe ($6) crossing two and a half lengths off the winner, just nudging out Finance Tycoon ($41) in a photo.

The previously undefeated filly Enthaar was the red-hot favourite in Blue Diamond betting and she went out deep on the track to take up the lead looking to go all-the-way.

She had a good gap on them around the turn into the straight, but the favourite got swamped late as a bunch of her rivals came for her in the closing stages.

Artorius, sharpened-up with the addition of blinkers, showed brilliant acceleration the final 50m in a race that wasn’t his best distance according to Freedman.

“1200 is probably short of his best distance,” he said.

“He’s a horse we’ll be targeting the Guineas with in the spring.”

Flying Artie went on to run third in the Golden Slipper Stakes off his Blue Diamond second, and that $3.5 million classic takes place on March 20 this season.

Artorius is not currently nominated for the Golden Slipper in Sydney, but is being kept very safe at $8 in the all-in markets at Ladbrokes.com.au after his impressive Blue Diamond Stakes success.

Click here for the latest futures 2021 Golden Slipper Stakes odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 Blue Diamond Stakes Results

Table Credit: Racing Australia.