Black Cavier not the only Aussie sprinter to watch at Royal Ascot
Published:Punters expecting a big run from an Australian sprinter at Royal Ascot will all look in the direction of Black Caviar, but larger profits could be gained through following Ortensia in the King’s Stand Stakes.
Black Caviar runs over 6f in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and is expected to retain her unbeaten record at Royal Ascot odds of 2/5.
Connections of Ortensia have managed to escape an Australian head-to-head by running their mare over the ultimate speed test of 5f and it is 5/1 that she completes her part of the international double with a triumph in the King’s Stand Stakes.
The race has proved a successful one for the Australians in the past decade as they have been responsible for four of the last nine winners.
Furthermore, their only entrant last year was Star Witness, who took second behind Prohibit.
Fillies and mares additionally have a decent record in the King’s Stand Stakes, filling almost a quarter of the each-way places in the past ten years from just 17 per cent of the runners.
Ortensia is no stranger to Group One company, having competed at the highest level in 13 of her last 16 races.
Victories have also been secured in her last two runs, with the latest coming over last season’s Temple Stakes winner Sole Power at Meydan.
Trainer Paul Messara has saddled one previous Royal Ascot runner with Alvarta unplaced in the Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2010, but he has done his homework.
Ortensia typically prefers to be produced late and came from last to secure her victory at Meydan.
However, the horse is to be ridden more prominently at Ascot mainly because of its uphill finish and the fact it is generally tougher to make up vast amounts of ground.
Meanwhile, she has been settled at Newmarket since March to give her ample time to recover from a long flight and become accustomed to her surroundings.
