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Fears
that a wet track would scuttle the chances of star Aussie mare Ortensia in the
Group I Nunthorpe Stakes at York overnight proved unfounded, as the daughter of
Testa Rossa produced her trademark late burst to snatch a narrow victory.
Again partnered by William Buick, the Paul Messara trained mare charged home
from the back of the field to beat Spirit Quartz by a neck, with 17 other
runners following in behind him.
They clocked a brisk 57.62 for the five furlongs.
"She's unbelievable, I can't remember riding a horse that can go through
so many gears over five furlongs. She's an amazing mare and the best
five-furlong horse I've ridden," said winning rider William Buick.
Racing Post offered the following assessment : This was the biggest ever field
for the Nunthorpe Stakes, which was first run in its modern form in 1922. It
was an open renewal, well up to the race´s recent level, but it contained just
three previous winners in the highest grade. July Cup winner Mayson was not
declared, and the 2-y-o Ceiling Kitty was one of several to miss the cut as a
maximum field lined up, minus former winner Kingsgate Native whose blood was
wrong.
This was a remarkable display by ORTENSIA, who thundered home from a long way
off the pace to snatch the race close home. Australia´s first Nunthorpe winner
- she has been based in Newmarket since April - she had disappointed in the
King´s Stand and couldn´t cope with the bad ground in the July Cup, but she
showed her true mettle in the King George Stakes and confirmed her superiority
over no fewer than eight of her rivals from Goodwood, with whom she was 7lb
better off.
A $50,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Riverside Stud draft for bloodstock
agent Steve Brem, Ortensia (pictured Taron Clark) has the impressive record of 13 wins and seven
placings from 34 starts with prizemoney in excess of $2.4 million.
The best performer to date sired by Vinery Stud's Testa Rossa, Ortensia is from
Aerate's Pick, who comes from the family of Group I stars Bint Marscay,
Bollinger, Filante, etc.
Aerate's Pick has a yearling colt by Encosta de Lago, but won't foal this
spring after missing in 2011.
The current two year-old from Aerate's Pick is a full brother to Ortensia that
was sold at Magic Millions earlier this year for $130,000 and is set to be
re-offered by Baramul Stud at the Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale on
October 31 as Lot 8.
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