News

Two worries for Ortensia in the Stradbroke Handicap

31st May 2009

Courier Mail - Tony Meany - 31 May 2009

ORTENSIA scraped into the Stradbroke with a short-head win at Eagle Farm, but connections are still worried about the weather – and who will ride her.

The outstanding three-year-old filly was never comfortable on the wet track yesterday and scrambled home in the QTC Cup (1300m).

"You all saw the next queen of the turf today and if she wins I'll be delighted," jockey Craig Williams said.

Williams dropped a bombshell on connections last Thursday when he knocked back the ride on Ortensia in the Stradbroke to ride the favourite All Silent, but the matter is yet to be resolved.

"You all saw she wasn't at her best in the going and that's my biggest concern.

"The one-week back-up does not worry me because she's a strong, powerful filly and she's done it before."

Noonan said connections decided to ride Ortensia closer to the lead yesterday because of the way the track was playing and that probably detracted from her finishing sprint.

Ortensia is normally ridden colder in her races and has a trademark powerful finishing burst, but that was not evident yesterday.

In a hectic finish, Ortensia ($2.10) held on to score a short-head win over Maxisun ($15), while Mr Baritone ($13) was a long-head away third.

Asked how he felt following the win, Noonan replied: "Relieved." Ortensia has 49.5kg in the Stradbroke, but weights will rise 1.5kg at acceptance.

That means Ortensia will carry 51kg, but she is eligible for a penalty for the win that assured her of a start.

Runner-up Maxisun looked likely to cause an upset halfway up the straight and trainer Tony Vasil said he was unlucky.

"He went to duck in and that probably cost him the race," Vasil said.

Maxisun is in races like the Eye Liner Stakes (1200m) at Ipswich in a fortnight and Vasil believes he is capable of winning top-class races.

Last year's Stradbroke winner Mr Baritone finished close in third place, and trainer Mike Moroney said he would improve. "I think he's going better than last year and he does look well handicapped in the race," Moroney said.

"If it dries out in the next week I think he will be an even better chance because he is a better horse on firm ground."

WILLIAMS rode half the program at Eagle Farm when he stormed home on Chinchilla Rose in the Group 3 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m).

Chinchilla Rose is prepared by Steele Ryan and she is on target for the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm in three weeks.

Ryan said he was unsure if Chinchilla Rose would run at Ipswich in the Eye Liner (1200m) or have a trial that week as a lead-up to the Winter Stakes.