Ortensia wins the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot

What a great weekend of racing we had, winning the Gr1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot with Ortensia, the Villiers at the Farm Handicap at Warwick Farm with Trauma and the Bundy Red Handicap at the Sunshine Coast with Glare.

Six-year-old mare Ortensia (Testa Rossa-Aerate's Pick, by Picnicker) notched her 2nd successive stakes-win since returning from a 5-months spell with a 1-length victory in the $500,000 weight-for-age Gr1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot. Ortensia (ridden by Craig Williams) defeated Rarefied (Commands-Subtle) and Grand Nirvana (Scenic-Paradise Park).

For Paul it was his second Group 1 victory, his first being with a six-year-old mare, Alverta (Flying Spur) who won the Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) in 2010. While for jockey Craig Williams it capped off a great spring carnival after also winning the W A Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) aboard King Saul (Flying Pegasus) earlier on the card. “To win a Group One win on this mare is great,” Williams said. “She deserved to have it. She had one and she lost it. She was awesome today. I have such a great relationship with her. I trust her and she was really good.”

Ortensia beat Rarefied by a length with Grand Nirvana (Scenic) a close third. “I’m overwhelmed,” said part-owner Alister Fraser. “I semi-retired her but I thought there was still something left. I wanted her to go out on top. I thought she deserved to go out a winner.”

Alister said he and Paul would discuss whether to give Ortensia another preparation in the Autumn before she goes to stud. There is the consideration she may head to New Zealand for some of the rich Summer Carnival races that are held in conjunction with the Karaka Yearling Sales.

Ortensia is now the winner of 10 of her 29 starts and earnings of $1,553,905. She was purchased by Steve Brem at the 2007 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $50,000 from the consignment of Riverside Stud. Her wins include last start’s Listed Mumm Stakes over 1100m at Flemington on November 3, plus 2009’s Gr2 Winterbottom Stakes over 1200m at Ascot, as well as 2009's Gr2 QTC Cup over 1300m at Eagle Farm, Listed Glenlogan Park Stakes over 1350m at Doomben and the Listed P.J.Bell Handicap over 1200m at Randwick, in addition to 2008's Gr3 Thousand Guineas Prelude over 1400m at Caulfield. She has also placed 7 times from 29 starts for $1,553,905 earnings.

Trauma (Anabaa-Isle of Pines), a seven-year-old lightly raced gelding, easily won his Warwick Farm race by two lengths after returning from a three month spell. Trauma has now won 7 races with 5 placings and prizemoney of $150,840 from 20 starts.

Glare (Redoute's Choice-Iflooxcouldkill), a four-year-old gelding, smashed the opposition by 3.5 lengths on Friday night at the Sunshine Coast to win his third race. He now has an impressive record of three wins and six placings from 10 starts. He was ridden by his regular rider Ken Pope who also rides track work for our Sunshine Coast stable horses.