Ortensia pleases trainer in Scone gallop

Friday 25 January 2013, 4:58pm

A barrier trial next month will determine whether dual international Group One-winning sprinter Ortensia takes on Black Caviar in the Lightning Stakes.

Ortensia pleased trainer Paul Messara in a public track gallop at Scone despite being beaten by an unheralded stablemate.

The pair worked over 1000m at Friday's race meeting with Newcastle maiden winner Kramer stretching out to a lead of six lengths rounding the turn.

Ortensia closed the gap to about two lengths on the line with Messara saying she had done what was needed at this stage of her preparation but a barrier trial on February 5 would be the key to a Lightning Stakes start.

"She'll barrier trial in ten days time and we'll make a decision then whether we go down to Melbourne or wait a bit longer," Messara told Sky Racing.

"I'm not going to push the button on her until she is one hundred per cent ready.

"We'll just take our time. When she's ready she'll say she's ready.

"She's no certainty (for the Lightning). That's where we're aiming but if I'm not happy we won't be going there."

The mare carried work rider Leah Gavanrich in the work-out while stablemate Kramer had the services of jockey Leanne Henry and did what Messara wanted.

"They ran good time," he said. "She made up three or four lengths just obviously cruising.

"There's a big weight difference between (Leah) and Leanne Henry and the intention wasn't to blow the other horse away."

The winner of the Al Quoz Sprint at the World Cup meeting in March, Ortensia started equal favourite in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot but hurt herself during the race and finished ninth.

Her fourth on an unsuitable heavy track in the prestigious July Cup at Newmarket set her up for victory in the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood and the Group One Nunthorpe at York.

Her overseas excursion ended when she was unplaced in the Haydock Sprint during which she suffered a cut leg.

Despite her stellar performances, Ortensia , also a Group One winner in Australia, was controversially given an international ranking of 115, two points lower than Queensland sprinter Buffering who has yet to win at the highest level.

Black Caviar (130) was rated the world's best over short courses on 130.

– AAP

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