Australian sprinter Ortensia has drawn a middle barrier for her shot at another international victory in the Group One July Cup at Newmarket.
Ortensia will jump from barrier eight in the 1200m feature which has a final field of 15 runners including former Australian star Sepoy who’ll start from barrier four.
The Paul Messara-trained Ortensia has already been successful on her international travels, taking out the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) in Dubai before continuing to England.
The mare came in ninth in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last month but she has been working well at Newmarket in preparation for the July Cup.
Messara was happy with Ortensia’s draw over the testing Newmarket course.
“A nice draw which should give us options in running,” Messara wrote in a tweet.
Bated Breath has barrier five and will bid to break his Group One duck in the race.
Four times a runner up at the highest level, Roger Charlton’s consistent sprinter is unlikely to have his ideal conditions at Headquarters.
He was second in this race 12 months ago to Dream Ahead and filled the same place behind Little Bridge on his last start in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot.
Society Rock will be fancied to go close with Ryan Moore on board after an unlucky passage in the Diamond Jubilee, where he met trouble in running behind Black Caviar.
There are two supplementary entries, David Marnane’s Wokingham winner Dandy Boy and Richard Hannon’s Strong Suit. Hannon also runs Libranno, a close fourth last year.
Bated Breath is 7/2 favourite with Society Rock at 5/1 and Ortensia at 8/1.
