Racing: Ortensia too good

Victorian trainer Tony Noonan came up trumps when classy mare Ortensia stormed to victory in the group two Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Noonan backed the 4-year-old up in the $500,000 weight-for-age feature after she failed to see out the distance when sixth to Sniper's Bullet in the Railway Stakes (1600m) on the same track the week before.

With premier Melbourne jockey Craig Williams again taking the reins, Ortensia settled well back but came with a blistering sprint in the straight to down the Jim Taylor-trained stablemates Idyllic Prince and Black In Time.

It was the Testa Rossa mare's second success at group two level after her win in the QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm in May.

The comprehensive victory took her record to eight wins and five placings from 16 starts for A$940,000.