ARTORIUS can win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (British Champions Series) (3.40pm) on the final day of Royal Ascot 2023.
The Aussie raider can go a few places better than 12 months ago and land the Group One feature on day five at the Berkshire track. Anthony and Sam Freedman’s four-year-old, twice a Group One winner Down Under, ran a fine race on his debut in Britain last year when he dead-heated for third with American raider Campanelle behind Godolphin duo Naval Crown and Creative Force in this six-furlong contest. He didn’t get a clear run and finished less than a length behind that duo, who won’t be in opposition this year. He also finished third following a slow start the following month in the July Cup at Newmarket before disappointing in softer conditions in the Prix Maurice De Gheest at Deauville on his final start of 2022.
But the son of Flying Artie has warmed up for a return trip to Europe with his second Group One victory in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick in his homeland over six-and-a-half furlongs. He was then fourth, not beaten too far, when stepped up to nearly a mile at Rosehill a couple of weeks later. It looks like he has had everything geared around this bid for glory at Ascot and he has the right blend of speed and staying power to go much closer this time. Ground, track and trip all look ideal and Artorius can follow Choisir (2003) and Black Caviar (2012) as the latest Aussie winner of the QEII Jubilee Stakes. John Quinn’s Highfield Princess – second in the five-furlong King’s Stand Stakes at the meeting on Tuesday; the Willie Haggas-trained Sacred; and course and distance winners Kinross and Rohaan all look to have the best chances of the home team.
