ID :
163754
Thu, 02/24/2011 - 12:17
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http://m.oananews.org//node/163754
The shortlink copeid
Ortensia ripe for Futurity
Trainer Tony Noonan says Ortensia will be at her top for the Group One Futurity Stakes at Caulfield after two big-race conditioning runs this campaign.
Noonan said the five-year-old mare was deserving of a Group One victory and would get her chance against some of the best weight-for-age performers in Saturday's 1400m feature.
The Futurity will be her 25th race start and her 10th at Group One level.
Last start she peaked on her run when beaten 1-1/2 lengths finishing third to Typhoon Tracy and Heart Of Dreams in the Group One Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
"She has done extremely well and I think she goes into this race a lot fitter," Noonan said.
"I couldn't fault her preparation and she is at the top of her game."
At her only other run since finishing fifth in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December, Ortensia was beaten 3-1/2 lengths when fourth to Whitefriars in the Group Two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on January 28.
"For the first time in a while we rode her forward last start at Caulfield and she raced really well," Noonan said.
"It was only her second run back out of quarantine and she loomed up at the furlong (200m) as if she was going to win and then her run came to an end 100 metres out.
"It was good effort and she has made good improvement since then."
Ortensia has eased from $9.50 to $12 with Sportingbet Australia while More Joyous is the solid $1.65 favourite ahead of Whobegotyou ($6) and firming New Zealander King Mufhasa ($12 in to $10).
"It is a hard race on Saturday but I am happy with her and I think she will run well," Noonan said.
"She deserves a Group one win."
The Orr Stakes was the third time Ortensia had been placed at the top level.
She was also third in both the 2009 Stradbroke Handicap and the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington last spring while she had the 2010 The Galaxy in Sydney taken off her after a positive swab.
Noonan said he would decide after the Futurity whether to take on Black Caviar in the Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on March 12.
He said other Group One options were the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 25 and the Sportingbet Classic (1200m) for fillies and mares at Morphettville on March 26.
Noonan said the five-year-old mare was deserving of a Group One victory and would get her chance against some of the best weight-for-age performers in Saturday's 1400m feature.
The Futurity will be her 25th race start and her 10th at Group One level.
Last start she peaked on her run when beaten 1-1/2 lengths finishing third to Typhoon Tracy and Heart Of Dreams in the Group One Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
"She has done extremely well and I think she goes into this race a lot fitter," Noonan said.
"I couldn't fault her preparation and she is at the top of her game."
At her only other run since finishing fifth in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December, Ortensia was beaten 3-1/2 lengths when fourth to Whitefriars in the Group Two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on January 28.
"For the first time in a while we rode her forward last start at Caulfield and she raced really well," Noonan said.
"It was only her second run back out of quarantine and she loomed up at the furlong (200m) as if she was going to win and then her run came to an end 100 metres out.
"It was good effort and she has made good improvement since then."
Ortensia has eased from $9.50 to $12 with Sportingbet Australia while More Joyous is the solid $1.65 favourite ahead of Whobegotyou ($6) and firming New Zealander King Mufhasa ($12 in to $10).
"It is a hard race on Saturday but I am happy with her and I think she will run well," Noonan said.
"She deserves a Group one win."
The Orr Stakes was the third time Ortensia had been placed at the top level.
She was also third in both the 2009 Stradbroke Handicap and the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington last spring while she had the 2010 The Galaxy in Sydney taken off her after a positive swab.
Noonan said he would decide after the Futurity whether to take on Black Caviar in the Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on March 12.
He said other Group One options were the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 25 and the Sportingbet Classic (1200m) for fillies and mares at Morphettville on March 26.
