Ortensia wins the G.H. Mumm Stakes on VRC Oaks Day

Group 1 winning mare, Ortensia, will head to Perth this week to prepare for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes on Saturday 19th November. Craig Williams was quick off the mark to secure the ride on the six-year-old mare.

Unfortunately due to a riding ban, Williams was unable to ride Ortenisia in the G.H. Mumm Stakes on VRC Oaks day and Darren Beadman was booked for the ride. Beadman rode Ortensia beautifully and was awarded with line honours winning the Listed race over 1100m against her own sex. Williams was almost a permanent fixture on Ortensia during her rise to Group 1 level and subsequently will be given the opportunity to continue the successful partnership in Perth.

The Winterbottom Stakes is a quality Group 1 race held at the end of November annually at Perth’s premier racing venue, Ascot Racecourse. One of the feature races during the Ascot Summer Carnival, the Group 1, Winterbottom Stakes is a 1200m sprint run under weight-for-age conditions and worth a lucrative $750,000 in prize money.

First run in 1952 when Raconteur claimed victory, the Winterbottom Stakes was originally run over a longer 1400m distance. In 1993 the length of the race was shortened to its current 1200m sprint distance. From its inaugural year until 1979 the Winterbottom Stakes was a Principal race before it was elevated to a Group 2 event. The Winterbottom Stakes was finally given its Group 1 status in 2011.

With Black Caviar unable to head to Perth after pulling up with a few niggles from Saturday's win, Ortensia and several other top quality horses were confirmed as nominations for the Winterbottom Stakes. Unbeaten Perth sprinter, Barakey and Ortensia are the two favourites for the Winterbottom Stakes. Ortensia will try to win this race for the second time, previously winning the race 2 years ago.