Ortensia legacy grows

Globetrotting mare’s granddaughter showing promise

Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich may not to have to wait much longer to welcome a second stakes-winning granddaughter of their beloved globetrotting mare Ortensia because plans have been drawn up for a potential winter carnival campaign for exciting filly Gentileschi.

Ortensia, a rare dual hemisphere three-time Group 1 winner, died after delivering two foals in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The second, and ultimately last, of the two was named Infiorata. Infiorata’s first foal, a filly by Maurice, is Genzano, who provided the then new training partners Messara and Gavranich with their first stakes win when she barnstormed her way to victory in the 2023 Spring Stakes at Newcastle.

Ortensia’s first foal was Artefiori, whose debut offspring Gentileschi has only recently shed her maiden status but in doing so sent out all the signs that she is bound for better – and soon.

“It was a really nice Messara said. win,’’

“Her work had been excellent at home so I was expecting her to run well.

“She’s had the habit of breaking slowly previously, so it is something that we have worked upon rectifying and she jumped at least on terms with them last start, which put her in a position where she was able to get clear running.

“She ended up with a lovely run in transit the way things worked out so everything went her way and she sprinted very well at the end.

“She goes up a little bit in weight and class on Tuesday.

“The second favourite, the horse of Rodney Northam’s (Fuld’s Doubt), is very good.

“It beat another one of my horses that I thought was pretty smart and was well and truly home, so it is going to give us some steady opposition.

“From that barrier (four), I am hoping she is going to get a nice soft run and just be there sprinting at the finish.’’

The Kia Ora Stallions Handicap (1400m) will be the fourth start for the daughter of Dundeel, her second at home and last before hitting the road and upping the ante.

‘Hopefully we can win on Tuesday and then look forward to possibly taking her to a 1500m TAB Highway after this, so that will be her next stop,’’ Messara said.

“If she continues, we can head up to Queensland and take on some better-class races. She just has to progress.’’

Messara and Gavranich’s other Scone runner is debutant In Summer, a daughter of The Autumn Sun, who was credited with his first Group 1 winner when Autumn Angel collected a vintage edition of the ATC Oaks on Saturday.