Testa Rossa mare Ortensia chases more global success in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (11000m) at Royal Ascot on Wednesday morning (AEST 12.05 AM).

The Paul Messara trained mare has been installed as a $4 favourite to take out the feature sprint and give connections a third Group 1 victory.

Ortensia remains unbeaten in her only three appearances for Scone trainer Paul Messara.  The last two of those have been at Group 1 level in the WATC Winterbottom Stakes in Perth and the Al Quoz Sprint triumph in Dubai on World Cup night.

Ortensia is the best of 41 stakeswinners sired by Testa Rossa and has so far earned over $1.55 million.

The Australians cheering at Royal Ascot will be matched in the Hunter Valley at Arrowfield and Vinery if the brilliant mare wins on the meeting’s opening day.

Arrowfield Stud has been tracking Ortensia’s progress through trainer Paul Messara’s Twitter feed.  It’s been quite a journey for Messara along with her owners Alistair Fraser, Emma Ridley and Annie Fraser plus her devoted attendant Leah Gavranich.

“She was the best she had been before Dubai and I feel she is coming into this race in the same sort of form,” Messara said.  “The ground is a concern, she has mixed form on rain-affected tracks and is better on top of the ground.  She has a devastating turn of foot on a quick surface.  I’ve had a really good look at the form and I think we have most of them covered.”

Messara made his first trip to Royal Ascot in 2010 with Flying Spur’s daughter Alverta who travelled poorly and was unplaced in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.  However, she recovered well enough to run a magnificent fighting third three weeks later in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket.  Alverta retired a year ago and is due to deliver her first foal by Charge Forward this spring.

Ortensia’s half-sister Glogirl (General Nediym) was also among the mares visiting Arrowfield stallions in 2011.  She was sent by her owner Robert Anderson to Not A Single Doubt.

Bred by Len Rhodes at Riverdene Stud near Corowa in New South Wales, Ortensia was purchased for $50,000 at the 2007 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.  She is by Vinery sire Testa Rossa from the extended family of G1 winners Bint Marscay, Benicio, Filante, Kenny’s Best Pal and Stella Cadente.