News

Ortensia confirms Moody's star mare may be a world-beater

13th Dec 2010

Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Roots - Monday, 13 December 2010

JJ THE JET PLANE made it South Africa's day in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin yesterday, but there was no more content man at the course than Australian trainer Peter Moody.

He was just a spectator but the race left little doubt he has the best sprinter back at home, unbeaten star Black Caviar.

JJ The Jet Plane proved too tough for Rocket Man in a driving finish scoring by a short-head, with defending champion Sacred Kingdom three-quarters of a length back in third.

However, it was the effort of Ortensia which warmed Moody's heart as she finished only 1¾ lengths from the winner in fifth.

Moody had a wry smile, knowing Black Caviar had put 6¾ lengths on Ortensia in the Patinack Farm Classic at her previous start.

The world of racing has been courting Moody in Hong Kong and his resolve not to travel Black Caviar will be tested, with Dubai weighing in with a big offer to get her to the World Cup meeting in March, and Royal Ascot keen to attract her.

JJ The Jet Plane was immediately targeted for the World Sprint Championship races in Melbourne next year, where could he come up against Black Caviar.

''He has proved he is among the best in the world and that he can travel, we just have to hope that they would like a trip to Australia,'' Racing Victoria's Leigh Jordan said.

''We will be talking to them straight away.''

Ortensia is likely to continue on an international campaign after doing trainer Tony Noonan proud in Hong Kong. The Victorian trainer has always believed she would be competitive on the world stage and she proved it yesterday. ''They just backed it off that little bit coming to the turn and we needed to keep going hard,'' Noonan said. ''That meant they didn't stop and she couldn't come over the top of them.

''We will go home and make a decision on where to go next, but there are races at home, in New Zealand and Dubai for her. She is definitely not out of her depth in international company.''

It was South African jockey Piere Strydom's eighth win from as many rides on JJ The Jet Plane, which reproduced the form that took him to back-to-back group 1s at home at his past two runs.

''Everything panned out perfect for me in the run,'' Strydom said. ''I got the right run behind Rocket Man and moved up to him before the turn. He was in for the fight but my horse was good.''

JJ The Jet Plane started his career with Lucky Houdalakis in South Africa but moved to the Mike de Kock stable for an international campaign as a four- and five-year-old, which netted a fourth in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot and a third in the July Cup down the straight at Newmarket.

He returned to his former trainer this year and is unbeaten in three group 1 starts since.

Earlier, Godolphin brought up its 200th winner for the season when Mastery raced away for a 2½-length win in the Hong Kong Vase. Frankie Dettori took off turning for home after a moderate tempo was set in front, and gave nothing else a chance.

''There was a bit of pressure because [trainer] Saeed [bin Suroor] had been telling me how well he was going,'' Dettori said. ''He was also our last runner for the year and we were on 199 for the year, so it was good to get it.''

Mastery beat Redwood, with Melbourne Cup winner Americain half-a-length back in third place.

''He couldn't really accelerate off the slow pace, and I thought it was a very good run,'' Americain's trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupre, said of his charge. ''I think he showed he could measure up to be an Arc horse next year.''