Ortensia set to sparkle in Sapphire
09 May, 2008
Trainer Tony Noonan is enthusiastic about his runners in two states on Saturday, especially the prospects of unbeaten filly Ortensia in the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.
Noonan, who turned 48 on Thursday, was in Queensland on Friday where he has two juveniles preparing for winter campaigns but he plans to be trackside at Caulfield on Saturday.
"I wouldn't miss seeing her run for quids," Noonan said of Ortensia who has impressed winning both her starts to date.
The filly scored by 4-1/2 lengths at her debut over 1000m at Bendigo in March and followed it with a five length victory over subsequent Sandown winner Viva Dubai over the same trip at Sandown on April 29.
Noonan has a high opinion of Ortensia who cost just $50,000 as a yearling.
He was given the filly to train by owner Alister Fraser who he met last year in Dubai where he won three races with Benedetti (two) and Smart And Mighty.
"She's a good filly. I took her to Caulfield on Tuesday and she worked very well and I think she'll be hard to beat tomorrow," Noonan said.
Ortensia dominates betting on the 1200m race and is the $2 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of last start Caulfield winner Kalash at $6.50 with Sarem, who is making his debut, next best at $9 along with filly Turquia.
Ortensia will be ridden by leading apprentice Sebastian Murphy who will also partner stablemate Beaming in the L.U. Simon Builders Plate (1100m).
Fellow apprentice Logan McGill has the mount on the Noonan-trained Jacqueline Rouge in the BTB Australia Directional Drilling Hcp (1400m).
Noonan will run Smart And Mighty in the Group Three RA Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville while Avelon Royale was scratched from Beaming's race at Caulfield to run in the Street Sense Hcp (1100m), also at Morphettville.
Michael Carson has the mount on both gallopers.
Noonan has made three gear changes on Beaming for Saturday's race taking the lugging bit off, fitting a tongue control bit and adding winkers and he expects the filly to acquit herself well.
"She's had two runs which she needed to bring her to her top and she worked really well on Tuesday," Noonan said.
Noonan is also expecting improvement from Jacqueline Rouge after her second-up 16th of 17 to Soaressa over 1200m at Morphettville on April 12.
"She took a while to get over the Adelaide run," Noonan said.
"I took her to Caulfield on Tuesday as well and she worked very well.
"Her chances will increase if it rains."
The track was on Friday rated a dead (4) and the moveable rail will be out five metres.
Noonan said he was confident Avelon Royale would be hard to beat in Adelaide, while Smart And Mighty "was just about ready".
He added Smart And Mighty's campaign was delayed by last year's equine influenza (EI) outbreak as he was in Queensland at the time and wasn't able to return to Victoria for several months.
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