ARTORIUS (AUS)

Blue Diamond Stakes winner Artorius is back in work and is getting close to heading towards a barrier trial before beginning his spring campaign.

The colt by Flying Artie hasn't raced since the Golden Slipper in March.

"He's probably going to be ready to trial in about two weeks," said Sam Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony.

"We'll work out where we resume with him, there's the option to go to the McNeil (Stakes) but he might be ready for a McKenzie (Stakes) as well before that, so we'll just take a traditional path, probably the same path that we took with Super Seth, and then use the Danehill (Stakes) potentially as a direction to whether we go towards the Caulfield Guineas or whether we head towards the Coolmore (Stud Stakes)."

Should connections opt to head towards the Guineas, Freedman believes that Artorius will be able to handle the step up to 1600m.

"He has a lovely, relaxed nature about him, he conserves a lot of energy, and we're mindful that sometimes these sort of sprinters can make you think they're going to get further than they do, but I think he's got the scope to get that sort of trip, and he's come back a lot stronger, he's grown a lot, so I think he's made the development needed to really train on at three as well," he said.

Anthony and Sam Freedman have confirmed star jockey Jamie Spencer will ride Artorius at Royal Ascot.

Confirmation came on Thursday morning, with the stable firming plans ahead of the trip in June.

The three-year-old Flying Artie entire is being aimed at the £350,000 (A$600,000) G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes (1207m) at Royal Ascot on June 18, followed by the £500,000 (A$900,000) G1 Darley July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket's July Course on July 9.

Artorius will be one of up to three Australian sprinters heading to this year's carnival with champion Nature Strip and Group 1-winner Home Affairs also likely to make the trip.