Racehorse TALK

Noonan thinking of Hong Kong with Ortensia
Brad Waters
Monday, 20 July 2009


Top Mornington trainer Tony Noonan has plans to tackle some lucrative international races later in the year with the brilliant sprinting filly Ortensia.

Ortensia came of age in her autumn and winter preparation, progressing from a Melbourne three-year-old event to mixing it with some of Australia’s best gallopers in the Group I Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.

Noonan said the daughter of Testa Rossa was currently spelling in Queensland before returning to his Mornington stables to begin her spring preparation.

“I had a look at her last week and she’s doing beautifully,” Noonan said. “Her coat looks terrific and she’s looking a picture at the moment.”

Noonan said he would leave Ortensia in the spelling paddock for “a week or two more” and said a spring program was yet to be mapped out for the rising four-year-old.

“We haven’t put anything in concrete for her yet,” Noonan said. “But the thing we are certain of is she won’t be having a heavy spring.

“She did such a good job in her last prep which was pretty long so we’ll doing the right thing by her and not overtaxing her in the spring.”

Noonan said a trip to Hong Kong for the rich international races could be on the cards for Ortensia if she continues her rapid improvement.

“I think if she keeps going the way she’s going, she might be up to a trip to Hong Kong,” Noonan said. “Her acceleration off a fast pace would give her a chance in a race like the Hong Kong Sprint later in the year.”