Craig Williams is putting his faith in trainer Tony Noonan's judgment when he rides Ortensia who backs up in Saturday's Group Two Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.Williams' only ride for the day is Ortensia who ran a good race under him when a 2-1/2 length sixth to Sniper's Bullet in the Group One Railway Stakes last Saturday.Noonan said the Testa Rossa four-year-old didn't run out the 1600m at her first try at the trip and Williams agreed."We had the perfect run but the mile was just beyond her on

Craig Williams is putting his faith in trainer Tony Noonan's judgment when he rides Ortensia who backs up in Saturday's Group Two Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.

Williams' only ride for the day is Ortensia who ran a good race under him when a 2-1/2 length sixth to Sniper's Bullet in the Group One Railway Stakes last Saturday.

Noonan said the Testa Rossa four-year-old didn't run out the 1600m at her first try at the trip and Williams agreed.

"We had the perfect run but the mile was just beyond her on the day," he said.

Even before the Railway, Noonan had it in mind to back up Ortensia in the $500,000 weight-for-age Winterbottom (1200m).

"Tony has been over with the horse in Perth for the whole time and if he thinks she's right to run then I have full faith in his judgment," Williams said.

"For him to back her up in the circumstances then he must be really happy with her.

"I'm looking forward to going over to ride her on Saturday."

Williams has built up a good record on Ortensia having ridden her at her past 10 starts for four wins, two seconds and a third.

During the winter she won the Group Two QTC Cup (1300m) before running third to Black Piranha and Danleigh in the Group One Stradbroke Hcp (1400m), both at Eagle Farm.

Three starts back she was beaten a length when fourth to Apache Cat in the Group Two AJ Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Before going to Perth, Ortensia was sent out odds-on favourite but was beaten a half-length by Strawberry Field in the Listed Herald Sun Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.

Ortensia and the Jim Taylor-trained Black In Time are the only mares in the 15-horse field.

Mares to have won the Winterbottom in the last decade are Ellicorsam (2004) and Miss Andretti (2005).

The Tony Vasil-trained Lucky Secret, who will be flown from Melbourne on Friday, is $3.40 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Ortensia ($4.80), Waratah's Secret ($5), Idyllic Prince ($6.50), Kid Choisir ($9.50) with Black In Time next at $12.