Ortensia (foaled 16 September 2005 – 5 June 2016) was an Australian
thoroughbred racehorse. A sprinter, she won
Group One
Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...
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 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
The Hunter Region, also commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney. It contains the Hunter River and its tributaries with highland areas to the north and so ...
, 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 at
Meydan Racecourse 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 (ninth behind the
Hong Kong sprinter Little Bridge) and the
July Cup
The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres ...
(fourth behind Mayson). In July however, she was ridden by
William Buick to a victory in the
Group Two
A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
Groups of people
* Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity
* Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...
King George Stakes at
Goodwood Racecourse and followed up a month later by taking the Group One
Nunthorpe Stakes at
York Racecourse. 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
References
{{reflist
2005 racehorse births
2016 racehorse deaths
Racehorses trained in Australia
Racehorses bred in Australia
Thoroughbred family 2-c