Ortensia (foaled 16 September 2005 – 5 June 2016) was an Australian thoroughbred racehorse. A sprinter, she won Group One races on three continents. The mare died while in foal to Redoutes Choice on the weekend of 4/5 June 2016, having to be euthanized due to a tumour that developed on one of her lungs, severely reducing her ability to breathe. She has two fillies a yearling by Choisir and a weanling by Dream Ahead. Ortensia was 10 years old.[3]
| Ortensia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sire | Testa Rossa (AUS) |
| Grandsire | Perugino (USA) |
| Dam | Aerate's Pick (AUS) |
| Damsire | Picknicker (AUS)[1] |
| Sex | Mare |
| Foaled | 16 September 2005 |
| Died | 5 June 2016 (aged 10) |
| Country | Australia |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | L D Rhodes |
| Owner | A D Fraser, Ms A Fraser & Miss E Ridley |
| Trainer | Tony Noonan Paul Messara |
| Record | 38: 13–3–4 |
| Earnings | A$1,423,867; US$600,000; £222,712; and HK$490,000[2] |
| Major wins | |
| Thousand Guineas Prelude (2008) P J Bell Stakes (2009) Glenlogan Park Stakes (2009) QTC Cup (2009) Winterbottom Stakes (2009, 2011) G H Mumm Stakes (2011) Al Quoz Sprint (2012) King George Stakes (2012) Nunthorpe Stakes (2012) | |
| Last updated on 6 June 2016 | |
Background
editOrtensia was a bay mare bred in New South Wales by L. D. Rhodes. She is one of many successful sprinters and milers sired by Testa Rossa who won six Grade One races in 1999 and 2000.[4] Testa Rossa is currently based at the Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.[5]
2012: International campaign
editAfter establishing herself as a successful performer in Australia, Ortensia embarked on an international campaign in 2012. Ortensia won the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Racecourse in March and was then sent to England for the European summer. Initial results were disappointing as she was well-beaten in the King's Stand Stakes (ninth behind the Hong Kong sprinter Little Bridge) and the July Cup (fourth behind Mayson). In July however, she was ridden by William Buick to a victory in the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse and followed up a month later by taking the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse. She came from a seemingly impossible position in the latter race two furlongs from the finish to win by a neck from Spirit Quartz.[6]
Major Race Wins
edit| Date | Race name | D | Course | Class | Prize | Margin | Time | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 September 2008 | Thousand Guineas Prelude | 1400m | Caulfield | G3 | A$75,000 | 0.8 | 1:26.02 | Danny Nikolic |
| 30 May 2009 | QTC Cup | 1300m | Eagle Farm | G2 | A$96,000 | 0.1 | 1:19.13 | Craig Williams |
| 28 November 2009 | Winterbottom Stakes | 1200m | Ascot, WA | G2 | A$300,000 | 1.5 | 1:08.56 | Craig Williams |
| 19 November 2011 | Winterbottom Stakes | 1200m | Ascot, WA | G1 | A$300,000 | 1.0 | 1:10.10 | Craig Williams |
| 31 March 2012 | Al Quoz Sprint | 1000m | Meydan | G1 | US$600,000 | 1.25 | 57.98 | Craig Williams |
| 3 August 2012 | King George Stakes | 5f | Goodwood | G2 | £56,710 | 1.25 | 57.24 | William Buick |
| 24 August 2012 | Nunthorpe Stakes | 5f | York | G1 | £141,775 | 0.4 | 57.62 | William Buick |
References
edit- ^ "Ortensia Horse Pedigree".
- ^ "Ortensia Horse, Race Form Guide, News, Stats, Horse racing form and News".
- ^ Sheehan, Luke (6 June 2016). "Three-time G1 winner Ortensia dies". Racing Victoria. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "Testa Rossa – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
- ^ "Overview Testa Rossa » Vinery Stud".
- ^ Greg Wood (24 August 2012). "Ortensia justifies long British sojourn with flying Nunthorpe victory". The Guardian.