Messara targeting Nunthorpe glory for Ortensia

Australian trainer Paul Messara has high hopes for Ortensia in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday week.

The seven-year-old mare showed her true colours with a sparkling win in the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood after being slightly disappointing on her first two races on these shores.

Britain’s wet summer was blamed for the Al Quoz Sprint victor not quite hitting the heights in Royal Ascot’s King’s Stand Stakes and the Darley July Cup, although her fourth in the latter event at Newmarket gave hope to connections that she was on the way back.