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Trial win by Dubai bound Ortensia
27 Feb 2012 | Racingandsports.com.au Group 1 winner Ortensia geared up for her planned trip to Dubai with a rousing barrier trial win at Randwick on Monday.
Ortensia, a member of the Scone-based Paul Messara stable, was on her game when she easily won a strong 1000m heat on the Kensington track by 1.75 lengths in the good time of 59.5 seconds.
She was too sharp for a strong field that included Group winners including Ilovethiscity, Metal Bender, Shannara, Jersey Lily and All Silent.
Messara told Racing and Sports last week that he is keen to take Ortensia to Dubai for the US$1 million, Group 1, Al Quoz Sprint over 1000m on the World Cup program at Meydan on March 31.
The plan is to fly the six-year-old to the Middle East early next month and spend about four weeks preparing for the sprint on the turf track.
If Ortensia runs to expectations in Dubai Messara is looking to push on to the UK with the mare for the Royal Ascot double of the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes (1000m) on June 19th and Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on June 24th.
Ortensia, a six-year-old mare by Testa Rossa, has not raced since she won the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth in November after winning first-up in the listed GM Mumm Stakes over 1100m at Flemington during the spring carnival after her Scone based owner Alister Fraser decided to defer her retirement to stud.
Ortensia, picture Quentin Lang, quentinjlang.com
 
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