News

Well-travelled Ortensia gets her deserved Group 1 in Perth

19th Nov 2011

Well-travelled racemare Ortensia continued the great run of mares in Group 1 races this Australian racing season in Perth today, taking out the newly upgraded WATC Winterbottom Stakes over 1200m.

In a fantastic day for Scone based trainer and owners Paul Messara, Alister Fraser, Emma Ridley and Annie Fraser, Ortensia joined Secret Admirer (Epsom Hcp), Black Caviar (Patinack Farm Classic), Southern Speed (Caulfield Cup) and Pinker Pinker (WS Cox Plate) as mares to win at Group 1 level against the males in the last two months.

Red hot jockey Craig Williams has ridden three of the five, in Ortensia, Southern Speed and Pinker Pinker, and the hoop was full of praise for today’s winner.

“She’s always been a Group One mare in our eyes,” Williams said.

I’ve got such a great relationship with her. Only one girl I’ve got a better relationship with, that’s my wife.

"It a great thrill to get that Group One back again.”

ORTENSIA ($50,000 2007 Premier, 6m Testa Rosaa-Aerate’s Pick) was a winner of the 2010 Group 1 ATC Galaxy Handicap at Randwick, but had the race taken off her through a positive swab return, so today’s win was much deserving of the top class mare whose resume reads ten wins across seven different tracks including stakes wins in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.

The daughter of Testa Rossa was only beaten 1.6 lengths in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint last December, with this year’s renewal likely to again be tempting for the connections.

Bred by Len Rhodes of Riverside Stud at Corowa NSW and selected by bloodstock agent Steve Brem from Riverside’s draft at the 2007 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for just $50,000, Ortensia has now earned $1.5 million for her owners Alister Fraser, his partner Emma Ridley and sister Annie Fraser.

Two from two this preparation the six year old mare will travel back to Messara’s world class complex in Scone, before plans are set for her next task, with lucrative Group 1 races in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, Dubai and Singapore all possibilities for the quality galloper in the next six months.

The progeny of Ortensia’s sire Testa Rossa are all set for another busy Inglis select yearling series next year, none more so than the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, where 18 youngsters by the Vinery Stud resident have already accepted.