Ortensia (Aus)(Testa Rossa {Aus}–Aerate's Pick {Aus}, by Picnicker {Aus}), a Group 1 winner on three different continents, has died at the age of 10. The mare was euthanised after developing a tumour on her lung. Bred by LD Rhodes in New South Wales and plucked out of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale for only A$50,000, the plucky bay was originally trained by Tony Noonan and latterly by Paul Messara for an ownership group.
She rose to prominence in Australia amassing an impressive haul of stakes-race victories before her initial strike at the top level in the G1 Burswood-Winterbottom S. at Ascot in 2011. She was then prepared by Messara for an international campaign that kicked off at Meydan in March 2012 when she beat Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. Settling in Britain for that summer, Ortensia was beaten at Royal Ascot and Newmarket before bouncing back to take the G2 Gordon's King George S. at Goodwood before adding a third Group 1 victory when winning the Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York under William Buick. In total she won 13 of her 38 starts for prize money of $2,334,156.
In a breeding career cut short, Ortensia leaves behind two fillies, a yearling by Choisir (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and a weanling by Dream Ahead (Diktat).
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