Williams On Ortensia In Winterbottom
- Monday, 07 November 2011 04:16
Craig Williams will finally be reunited with Ortensia after she was among several sprinters to figure in a sudden change to their campaigns in the wake of Black Caviar's Winterbottom Stakes defection.
Ortensia"Things have changed very quickly in the past 24 hours," trainer Paul Messara told AAP.
"It's been a very busy morning and I would imagine there are a few more trainers doing the same thing now that Black Caviar's out.
"But yes, she will be will on the flight (to Perth) tomorrow night."
Williams, denied a place in racing history's books when suspension cost him the ride on the Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, was quick off the mark to secure the Ortensia ride in the Group One sprint at Ascot on Saturday week.
Messara confirmed Williams' manager Mark Guest had chased the mount as soon as the news on Black Caviar broke, leaving the way open for a strong contingent of eastern states sprinters to make the trip to Perth.
"They (Williams' team) rang me," Messara said.
While she isn't box office material like Black Caviar, Ortensia is a top-shelf sprinter in her own right, confirmed during the Melbourne Cup carnival at her first start for Messara.
Williams was booked for a VRC Oaks day reunion before his ban and with Darren Beadman in the saddle, Ortensia scored with authority in a Listed 1100m race against her own sex.
"She's come through the run really well," Messara said. "I'm very happy with her."
Williams, who was almost a permanent fixture on Ortensia's back during her rise to the elite level of Australian sprinters, last rode Ortensia when she failed on a heavy track in The Galaxy at Randwick in April.
He was also aboard the mare when she was first across the line in the 2010 edition of the Group One sprint, only for the race to be stripped from her because of a positive swab.
After her win last Thursday, Messara pencilled in a New Zealand campaign during the summer but a trip across the Tasman could now be on hold.
"Going to Perth might make change things now for the rest of her preparation," Messara said.
Ortensia, promoted to the second line of Winterbottom betting at $3 in revised TAB Sportsbet markets on Monday, will be trying to win the race for second time.
OrtensiaTwo years ago she quickly rebounded from a Railway Stakes defeat over 1600m to win the Winterbottom a week later when the race was run at Group Two level.
Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody will still have Winterbottom representation with Master Harry while Peter Snowden has confirmed Rarefied on the flight west.
Barakey, the unbeaten Perth sprinter who was going to miss the Winterbottom because of Black Caviar's presence, is the new race favourite at $2.30.
Trainer Jim Taylor told Perth radio on Monday the four-year-old was now a "60/40" chance of taking his place in the field.
Pictures: Quentin Lang
