The Racing NSW Appeal Panel on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by the owners of Ortensia against her disqualification from her win in The Galaxy at Randwick in April.The disqualification followed the detection of a prohibited substance, Ractopamine, in a urine sample taken from Ortensia following the running of the Group One race.The Appeal Panel confirmed the order of the stewards acting under AR177 that Ortensia be disqualified from first placing in The Galaxy and that the placings be amended to
The Racing NSW Appeal Panel on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by the owners of Ortensia against her disqualification from her win in The Galaxy at Randwick in April.
The disqualification followed the detection of a prohibited substance, Ractopamine, in a urine sample taken from Ortensia following the running of the Group One race.
The Appeal Panel confirmed the order of the stewards acting under AR177 that Ortensia be disqualified from first placing in The Galaxy and that the placings be amended to Shellscrape (1st), Swift Alliance (2nd) and Stryker (3rd).
Meanwhile, Ortensia pleased trainer Tony Noonan when she beat stablemate Ma Shang by a length in a solid 1200m hitout between races one and two at Sandown on Wednesday.
The mare flies out next Tuesday to take on a top-class field in the Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m), which includes Hong Kong star Sacred Kingdom and Singapore champion Rocket Man, on December 12.
"I'm not going there to run second," Noonan said.
"I've always felt that this sort of race, high speed off a bend, is what suits her best and I think she can win."
The well-travelled Testa Rossa five-year-old, ridden by stable apprentice Jake Noonan, sat about three lengths off Ma Shang early before ranging up to him at the 200m and then edging away.
"I was happy with it. She needed a real strong hitout and I said to Jake going out onto the track this would be our strongest piece of work before we went away," Noonan said.
"And we'll probably have another two pieces whilst we're away. But I wanted her to have a good hitout and she worked to the line really well."
Noonan decided not to use blinkers on Ortensia in the workout, preferring to wait for race day.
"Without the blinkers on she tends to wander a bit. I didn't want to put them on today and she changes stride and looks and darts and dives (without them)," he said.
"But Jake was really pleased with her and she was strong on the line.
"That and the plane trip will tighten her up and she'll go there fit and well."