Kyneton trainer Charles Cassar is flirting with the idea of targeting the Winter Championship series with promising wet tracker Ortayga.The four-year-old hasn't raced past 1200 metres but Cassar has been training the El Moxie gelding to settle in his races and is looking for a strong finish from him in Wednesday's Zephyr Bay Handicap (1200m) at Sandown."This race will tell the story with him," Cassar said."If he settles and runs on we will have a look at whether he is up to having a go at the Wi

Kyneton trainer Charles Cassar is flirting with the idea of targeting the Winter Championship series with promising wet tracker Ortayga.

The four-year-old hasn't raced past 1200 metres but Cassar has been training the El Moxie gelding to settle in his races and is looking for a strong finish from him in Wednesday's Zephyr Bay Handicap (1200m) at Sandown.

"This race will tell the story with him," Cassar said.

"If he settles and runs on we will have a look at whether he is up to having a go at the Winter Championship."

Ortayga comes from a prolific winning family with his dam Self Centred a three-time winner up to 1500 metres who has produced eight foals for six winners.

Four of her winners have won over 1600 metres including Ortayga's full-brothers Skilling (10 wins) and Limerick Scene (eight wins).

Ortayga has won four of his 14 starts including twice in restricted city company, and Cassar has always liked him as a potential "miler".

"When I bought him I thought he would make a nice miler but he was always over-racing," Cassar said.

"Only now is he giving us the impression he might be starting to race through to his pedigree and get over a bit more ground like 1400 metres."

Ortayga could be forgiven for feeling a little rejected, having been forced to start from wide barriers most of his career and again on Wednesday will line up on the outside of the 10-horse field.

Cassar said he didn't mind Ortayga racing forward so as long as he could get cover.

"We have been trying to help him settle and run on a bit in his races but it could be hard to do get cover out there as he's a horse who once you switch him one he's alight," Cassar said.

One jockey who knows Ortayga well is Luke Nolen who is having his third ride on the gelding.

He won on him at Caulfield last December and was second on him at Moonee Valley in October.

Ortayga's two runs back this time have been sound, his latest being a third to Produced and Tea Leoni at Kilmore over 1100 metres on April 20.

He is proven on rain-affected ground and with a heavy eight rating gets conditions to suit.