The riding tactics used to deliver Ortensia a Dubai Group One win are almost certain to shelved for her Royal Ascot assignment next week.
Ortensia was a last-to-first winner of the Al Quoz Sprint but trainer Paul Messara has flagged a speed map switch for the King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday.
The young trainer, preparing for a second shot at Royal Ascot glory, wants Ortensia to be ridden closer to the tempo.
“It will be hard to make up the ground we were able to in Dubai so she will certainly have to settle a couple of lengths closer (to the leaders),” Messara said.
“Royal Ascot is an uphill track whereas Dubai was flat.”
Amid the hype surrounding Black Caviar’s arrival in England for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Ortensia’s claims as a leading King’s Stand Stakes chance have passed almost unnoticed.
But Messara, who campaigned Alverta in Europe two years ago, has already compiled his barrier draw wish-list.
“I hope we draw where the speed is and where the main chances are so we’ve got a nice horse to follow in the race,” he said.
“It’s going to be a huge field and I think you’ve got to draw where the speed is. And there is no doubt there will be speed on in this race.”
Ortensia was sent to England straight after her Dubai triumph in late March, a move which Messara says has made the six-year-old a happy horse in her Newmarket stable.
“We came a lot earlier and I learnt that from last time (with Alverta), particularly travelling older mares,” he said.
“It’s really helped to get her used to her new environment, get her out on the slopes and get her used to working here.”
Alverta lost 50kg on the flight from Australia and finished worse than midfield in the Golden Jubilee only to rebound with a July Cup placing at Newmarket almost three weeks later.
Ortensia will be trying to continue an Australian domination of the King’s Stand since Choisir’s history-making win in 2003.
