Ortensia (foaled 16 September 2005 – 5 June 2016) was an Australian
thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
racehorse. A sprinter, she won
Group One races on three continents. The mare died while in foal to Redoutes Choice on the weekend of 4/5 June 2016, having to be euthanized due to a tumour that developed on one of her lungs that reduced severely her ability to breathe. She has two fillies a yearling by Choisir and a weanling by Dream Ahead. Ortensia was 10 years old.
Background
Ortensia was a bay mare bred in
New South Wales
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, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
by L. D. Rhodes. She is one of many successful sprinters and milers sired by Testa Rossa who won six Grade One races in 1999 and 2000. Testa Rossa is currently based at the Vinery Stud in the
Hunter Region, New South Wales.
2012: International campaign
After establishing herself as a successful performer in Australia, Ortensia embarked on an international campaign in 2012. Ortensia won the
Al Quoz Sprint
Al Quoz Sprint is a thoroughbred horse race held in Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was first run in 2007 as part of the then, Dubai International Racing Carnival and subsequently moved to Dubai World Cup night in 2010 to coinci ...
at
Meydan Racecourse
Meydan Racecourse is a racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The grandstand is over a mile in length, and can accommodate over 60,000 spectators.
Meydan opened on 27 March 2010, replacing Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which formerly occupi ...
in March and was then sent to England for the European summer. Initial results were disappointing as she was well-beaten in the
King's Stand Stakes
The King's Stand Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled ...
(ninth behind the
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...
sprinter Little Bridge) and the
July Cup (fourth behind Mayson). In July however, she was ridden by
William Buick
William Buick (born 22 July 1988) is a Norwegian-British flat jockey. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. From 2010 to 2014 h ...
to a victory in the
Group Two King George Stakes
The King George Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is ...
at
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House. It hosts the annual Glorious Goodwood meeting in la ...
and followed up a month later by taking the Group One
Nunthorpe Stakes
The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is sched ...
at
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is a horse racing venue in York, North Yorkshire, England.
It is the third biggest racecourse in Britain in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot in prize money offered per meeting. It attracts around 350 ...
. In the latter race she came from a seemingly impossible position two furlongs from the finish to win by a neck from Spirit Quartz.
Major Race Wins
See also
*
List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses
The list of leading Thoroughbred racehorses contains the names of undefeated racehorses and other horses that had an outstanding race record in specific categories. Note though that many champions do not appear on the list as an unexpected defe ...
References
{{reflist
2005 racehorse births
2016 racehorse deaths
Racehorses trained in Australia
Racehorses bred in Australia
Thoroughbred family 2-c