Ortensia is much too good for the rest as she runs away with the Group 2
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Ortensia strikes for Aussies under Buick
Report: Glorious Goodwood, Friday
Gordon's King George Stakes (Group 2) 5f, 3yo+
THE persistance paid off for connections of Australian mare Ortensia. The 6-1 joint-favourite finally got the fast pace she needed 0n decent ground and, even under a penalty, was far too good for the rest as she came from the back of the field and powered down the hill with a sharp turn of foot to win comfortably under man of the moment William Buick.
Spirit Quartz ran on for second ahead of last year's winner Masamah, who led the stands side a merry dance for most of the race.
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This 5f contest is traditionally one of the fastest races in the world and the Australians have very much had the quickest sprinters in recent times, but Ortensia would never have encountered a track like Goodwood in her life so one wondered how she would handle going downhill.
We should never have worried. Switched off under Buick she travelled beautifully and never seemed to get unbalanced as she was asked to go about her business.
After that the race was never in doubt as her class told on the rest of the field, who couldn't find the necessary gears to go with her despite all getting weight.
This was a much needed victory for trainer Paul Messara and the winning syndicate. Ortensia had run well in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot and even better when fourth in the July Cup, where the bottomless conditions would not have suited her at all.
It's fair to say she has now definitely acclimatised to British conditions and the Group 1 Nunthorpe must be a possibility. BetVictor make her a 6-1 shot behind 5-1 favourite Bated Breath. Hills are the same price, while Paddy Power go 5-1 from 12s.
The winning rider said: "On previous form she was head and shoulders above the rest. My initial plan was to sit in behind the leaders but one thing Paul Messara said was not to make her do something she didn't want to do.
"She is much better when she gets a bit of daylight. I was fortunate they split into two groups and she found racing room.
"You have very good sprinters around, like Bated Breath, but this filly will take some pegging back in the Nunthorpe if things go her way and she's in this kind of form."
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