Group One winning colt Foxwedge has been retired to stud leaving Ortensia to carry the flag for Australia in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.The Group One sprint was to be the swan song for Foxwedge but the decision to retire him early was made on Sunday, two days after he finished a well-beaten second in a barrier trial.Friday's trial was the colt's first public outing since he finished at the tail of the field in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick last month.He was subsequently f

Group One winning colt Foxwedge has been retired to stud leaving Ortensia to carry the flag for Australia in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Group One sprint was to be the swan song for Foxwedge but the decision to retire him early was made on Sunday, two days after he finished a well-beaten second in a barrier trial.

Friday's trial was the colt's first public outing since he finished at the tail of the field in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick last month.

He was subsequently found to have mucus in his throat and was given treatment for a respiratory problem.

Foxwedge won the Group One William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley earlier this year and will stand at Newgate Farm as its foundation stallion this spring.

In consultation with trainer John O'Shea, Newgate Farm decided not to risk its investment by taking the colt overseas.

Ortensia, meanwhile has settled into her surrounds in England with trainer Paul Messara now overseeing her preparation.

The mare's win in the Alquoz Sprint came on the back of her Group One victory in the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth.

Bated Breath, winner of Saturday's Temple Stakes at Haydock, is favourite for the King's Stand ahead of Ortensia.

Australia's champion juvenile of last season, Sepoy, is also slated to make his English debut in next month's King's Stand on the first day of the Royal Ascot carnival.

Formerly trained by Peter Snowden for Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Australia, Sepoy has joined the Godolphin team under Mahmood Al Zarooni.

Since Choisir's groundbreaking King's Stand victory in 2003, three other Australians - Takeover Target (2006) Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009) - have won the race.

Unbeaten mare Black Caviar was given a solid 1000m gallop on Saturday morning at Caulfield ahead of her trip to the Royal Ascot carnival for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

She is due to leave Australia in early June.