Ortensia will press on to the July Cup at Newmarket despite her disappointing performance at Royal Ascot.
The Paul Messara-trained mare finished ninth to Hong Kong’s Little Bridge in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes on the opening night of the five-day carnival.
Messara, in England to oversee the mare’s British summer campaign, revealed Ortensia had pulled up sore from Tuesday’s race.
“Disappointment yesterday. Ortensia was very worked up prior to running and was dripping with sweat in the parade ring,” Messara tweeted.
“She received a squeeze at the 500 and then had to bump her way clear. Pulled up this morning with a sore back. We will continue to the July (Cup).”
Ortensia has won two Group One races since being transferred to Messara just over a year ago.
She claimed the Winterbottom Stakes at Perth’s Ascot racetrack in November before adding the Al Quoz Sprint at Dubai in March.
The Group One July Cup is on July 14 at Newmarket and Ortensia will be striving to become the first Australian-trained winner.
Choisir finished second in 2003 after claiming the King’s Stand-Golden Jubilee double at Royal Ascot while the Messara-trained Alverta came off an unplaced Golden Jubilee run to finish third two years ago.
