Racing: Ortensia ready for clash

MELBOURNE - Victorian sprinter Ortensia is set to take on reigning Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy in the Australia Stakes under lights at Moonee Valley on Friday.

The 5-year-old has been freshened up since running fifth to J J The Jet Plane in the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 12.

"She's been out of quarantine for nearly two weeks now. We were able to keep her ticking over in Hong Kong and then at Werribee," trainer Tony Noonan said yesterday.

"For a fortnight after Hong Kong she was on her own, which is always a concern.

"But her groom Lisa Jones, who looked after her in Hong Kong, was also with her at Werribee so she had continuity in the sense that she had a human there all the time.

"The trip to Hong Kong was fantastic. She didn't win the big prize but she performed well and seems to have come through it well and we're looking forward to an autumn with her."

Meanwhile, stablemate Kutchinsky will trial over 1190m at Cranbourne today. The Australian Cup entrant will be trialling for the second time this month, having run second over 1000m at Pakenham on January 10.

The 4-year-old has not raced since finishing second to Dariana in the Queensland Derby in June.

"He's coming along nicely. Unfortunately, he missed the spring with a virus that he got in Brisbane after the Derby," Noonan said.

"We brought him back to Melbourne and he had about a month's work before going out for the spring.

"He went out a healthy horse and come back well.

"He's already had a trial and after Monday's he'll be ready to go back to the races."

- AAP