Ortensia will mount her quest for an elusive Group One win in Perth on Saturday but not before trainer Paul Messara chases some smaller spoils at Warwick Farm.
Messara will start three runners at the Sydney meeting, Pyrography in the Hylands Kids Colours For Christmas Handicap (1000m) and Chateau Fort and Trauma in the final event over 1300m.
Pyrography improved on her unplaced first-up run to finish fourth to Cheap Thrills last start over 1200 metres at Randwick and Messara is banking on a distance drop helping her recapture winning form.
“I was hoping she would run out six furlongs (1200m) but I think she prefers 1000 metres or 1100 metres maximum,” Messara said.
“So I’ve brought her back in distance and I’m expecting her to run well.”
Group Three winner Chateau Fort showed promise during the winter carnival in Brisbane and is returning from a bungled Melbourne trip.
He finished last to the in-form Under The Eiffel on Melbourne Cup day but it was a run Messara said was best forgotten.
“He flew the gates and buckled over onto his knees,” Messara said.
“The jockey (Dwayne Dunn) nearly fell off. His feet came out of the irons and you can just put a pen through the run.
“The horse came through it OK apart from a couple of scratches but it is basically a resuming run this Saturday.”
Messara said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Chateau Fort run well but stressed he would be better suited over the 1600m of the Villiers Stakes next month.
“I think he’s a possibility on Saturday but getting up towards a mile will be ideal and that’s the way he’s headed,” he said.
Christian Reith will partner both Pyrography and Chateau Fort while Hugh Bowman jumps aboard the resuming Trauma.
Plagued by problems throughout his career, the seven-year-old has raced just 19 times and three of his six wins have come first-up.
But Messara warned he may not have the same fresh edge as an older horse.
“He’s a lot more dour now than he used to be,” he said.
Messara will cheer on his Sydney team from Ascot after arriving in Perth this week to oversee the final preparations for Winterbottom Stakes favourite Ortensia.
AAP TURF
