Australian sprinter Ortensia has claimed a dominant Group II win at Goodwood after a frustrating English summer to set up a tilt at the Nunthorpe Stakes.
Thwarted by the wet weather when fourth in the July Cup at Newmarket and well below her best form in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot, Ortensia got conditions to suit in the King George Stakes.
The 6-1 equal favourite switched on the afterburner in the final furlong (200m) and was soon in absolute control as she passed the post 1-1/4 lengths ahead of Spirit Quartz.
Trainer Paul Messara watched the race from Australia and tweeted his delight.
"Ortensia will now contest the Nunthorpe at York (August 24).Air Max 95 Can't wait!" he said.
The recent preparation has been supervised by Newmarket trainer Toby Coles.
"I've just been overseeing things," Coles said.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"The Royal Ascot run was a bit confusing but she ran a great race at Newmarket on ground she had never seen before. She should have been swimming there!"
William Buick, riding Ortensia for the second time, said the mare was simply better than her rivals.
"She was head and shoulders above the rest of them," he said.
"I wanted to be just sitting behind the leaders but I don't think she'd ever been downhill before and Paul said that I shouldn't ask her to do anything she didn't want to do.
"I think she'd be better over six furlongs but York would be fine for her."
A Group I winner in Australia and Dubai, Ortensia's program could include a sprint in France after next month's Nunthorpe.
Thwarted by the wet weather when fourth in the July Cup at Newmarket and well below her best form in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot, Ortensia got conditions to suit in the King George Stakes.
The 6-1 equal favourite switched on the afterburner in the final furlong (200m) and was soon in absolute control as she passed the post 1-1/4 lengths ahead of Spirit Quartz.
Trainer Paul Messara watched the race from Australia and tweeted his delight.
"Ortensia will now contest the Nunthorpe at York (August 24).Air Max 95 Can't wait!" he said.
The recent preparation has been supervised by Newmarket trainer Toby Coles.
"I've just been overseeing things," Coles said.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"The Royal Ascot run was a bit confusing but she ran a great race at Newmarket on ground she had never seen before. She should have been swimming there!"
William Buick, riding Ortensia for the second time, said the mare was simply better than her rivals.
"She was head and shoulders above the rest of them," he said.
"I wanted to be just sitting behind the leaders but I don't think she'd ever been downhill before and Paul said that I shouldn't ask her to do anything she didn't want to do.
"I think she'd be better over six furlongs but York would be fine for her."
A Group I winner in Australia and Dubai, Ortensia's program could include a sprint in France after next month's Nunthorpe.
RSS Feed