SYDNEY - Ortensia has won all over Australia and now the world awaits after a brilliant first-up win in the Galaxy at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Tony Noonan is considering the group one KrisFlyer (1200m) in Singapore next month for the 4-year-old after watching her storm home down the outside
to claim her first group one victory.
Ortensia ($4.40 fav) settled near last in the field of 14 but regular rider Craig Williams has great faith in the mare's ability and took her to the extreme outside where she unleashed her customary finish to reel her rivals in.
She defeated Shellscrape ($21) by a short neck with a half-neck to Swift Alliance ($7).
The Galaxy victory was Noonan's second group one as a trainer after Piavonic defeated champion mare Sunline in the 2001 Manikato Stakes.
But he has no hesitation saying Ortensia is the best horse he's trained.
"And I think the best is still in front of her, too," Noonan said.
"She's only lightly raced and she's really filled out into a magnificent mare now."
The trainer has the option of four group ones during the Queensland winter carnival or the Singapore KrisFlyer on May 17.
But he is keen to do both.
"We'll just wait and see but we've been invited [for the KrisFlyer]. It's a million-dollar race, she's won a group one now and I think the pattern in Singapore would suit her.
"They run really quick there and she loves those fast speeds.
"I'd want to come back and run in the Stradbroke. We've got unfinished business there because I think we were a bit stiff in the race last year."
Ortensia finished third in last year's Stradbroke as a 3-year-old.
While Singapore is likely to be the mare's first overseas venture, Noonan has his sights set on more trips next season with Royal Ascot and Dubai also being earmarked.
Noonan watched the Galaxy from the Randwick mounting yard.
"I couldn't see much because I'm so small and I was just hoping that there would be something coming right down the outside and when I saw that black hat coming I knew," he said.
"She's got an emphatic finish. I would love to know what she ran her last 400m in because she probably spotted them 12 lengths."
Three-year-old Shellscrape showed he was back to somewhere near his best after disappointing runs in his previous two races.
- AAP
SYDNEY - Ortensia has won all over Australia and now the world awaits after a brilliant first-up win in the Galaxy at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Tony Noonan is considering the group one KrisFlyer (1200m) in Singapore next month for the 4-year-old after watching her storm home down the outside
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