Shamardal's Artistry Claims a Third Group Three

Making her first start since winning the Group III Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, the 5yo Shamardal mare Artistry came from last on the turn under Sam Clipperton to edge her better fancied stablemate Dothraki in Saturday's Group III Smotth FM Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Artistry swept down the centre of the track to defeat Dothraki (Mossman) by half-a-length with the Sue Grills-trained Fickle Folly (Nicconi) a further one and a quarter length back in third. (photos Steve Hart).

With a third Group III to her credit, Artistry advances her overall record to 8 wins, 3 second and 1 third from 20 starts for earnings of $539,935.

Paul Snowden said the mare's dislike of wet tracks was a cause for concern.

"Look it's not her preferred ground," Snowden said.

"Being obviously fresh we thought she may get away with it and also it was 1100m. All her form is 1200m and a little bit further.

"It was a little bit unchartered territory for her but she has come away with a win today."

The Group II Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 8 has been pencilled in.

A homebred for West Australian Neven Botica, Artistry is a daughter of the unraced Belong To Me mare Lady Peony whose dam Zebizan is a sister to Group 1 winner Cronus and Group II winner Pravda as well as the unraced Milliyet the dam of triple Group 1 winner Samantha Miss.

Lady Peony has an unraced 3yo colt by Azamour (IRE) named Azarose who made $300,000 to the bid of Beamish Bloodstock at the 2016 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale. 

Not covered in 2015, Lady Peony has a yearling filly by Tavistock and was bred back to Dalghar (FR).