News

Ortensia Adds Another Overseas Group Win To Resume

4th Aug 2012

On a drying track at Glorious Goodwood in England the Australian bred sprinter Ortensia was able to unleash her electrifying turn-of-foot to defeat a big field in the Group 2 King George Stakes (1000m), adding another international Group win to her resume.

ORTENSIA ($50,000 2007 Premier, 7m Testa Rosaa-Aerate’s Pick) had defeated a world class field in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in Dubai earlier this year when coming from the back of the field, and those tactics were again employed to great success at Goodwood where the globe-trotter powered past her rivals over the last 400m to a length and a quarter victory.

Replay of the 2012 Group 2 King George Stakes can be viewed HERE

The daughter of Testa Rossa has been a revelation since being brought out of retirement by her owners, Alister Fraser, Annie Fraser and Emma Ridley, and sent to trainer Paul Messara, recording wins in the last nine months at Listed level in Melbourne, Group 1 level in Perth and Dubai, and now Group 2 success at Goodwood.

Unable to show her customary turn-of-foot on wet tracks at her last two starts when fourth in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket and ninth in Group 1 King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, Ortensia gave all her opposition weight in the King George but had too much class at a much drier Goodwood.

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 $50,000, Ortensia joins Choisir, Takeover Target, Starspangledbanner and Black Caviar as Australian-bred and Inglis-sold Group winners in England in recent years.

Connections of the $2.25million earner have indicated that the seven-year-old mare will be aimed at the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over 1000m at York on 24 August, with a possible trip to France to follow.