Artistry has produced an impressive turn of foot in the final straight at Rosehill Gardens to beat stable mate Dothraki in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) this afternoon.
Artistry stormed home to win the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes this afternoon. Photo: Steve Hart
Artistry drifted in betting markets in the minutes leading up to jump, but the mare jumped from the barriers well and took a position off the early pace set by Ball Of Muscle and Alart.
Jockey Sam Clipperton was able to get the Shamardal mare to switch off almost immediately and the pair enjoyed a carefree run in transit at the tail of the field over the back straight and onto the turn.
Blocked for a run and with seemingly too much to do upon arriving on the final straight, Clipperton found a gap between runners towards the outside of the field, but allowed Artistry plenty of time to balance before asking for an extra effort.
The Hong Kong-based hoop was greeted with a smart turn of foot with 250m to run as Artistry flew home down the outside of the field; finding Dothraki with 100m to spare and eventually hitting the line comfortably in the clear; Fickle Folly boxing on to finish third.
Artistry produced a number of strong results through her 2016 campaign and resumed in spring for a close second behind Egyptian Symbol in the Group 3 Nivison Stakes (1200m) on October 15th.
Having returned to the paddock after winning the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day, the five-year-old performed well in a talent-rich Rosehill trial on January 31st.
A campaign target is yet to be confirmed for Artistry this time, however a race like the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) on Day 2 of The Championships is not out of the question.
Artistry was also included in the field for a Kembla Grange race on Friday afternoon, however trainers Peter & Paul Snowden were confident that the conditions of the Maurice McCarten Stakes would suit the mare first-up and were rewarded for the decision.
