Tough El Moxie gelding Ortayga returns to his favourite track at Moonee Valley tonight and looms as a solid chance to take out the Mix 101.1 Handicap (Race 6 at 9.15pm AEDT).

Last start at Geelong on Cup day, Ortayga defied a wide barrier to all but run down the eventual winner Okay Oky by ¾ of a length. The rise in weight tonight is offset by the inside barrier (2) and with Cardinal Virtue likely to be favourite, Ortayga will appeal at juicy each-way odds.

Ortayga (5g El Moxie-Self Centred by Century) was purchased for $18,500 at the 2006 Inglis Melbourne Autumn Sale and is by evergreen Emirates Park (Victoria) sire El Moxie who was pensioned last year.  He got Ortayga from South Australian winner Self Centred who has foaled six winners all-up.  This is the family of champion Queensland sire Sequalo (Rustic Amber) and G3 Gosford Cup winner Mamzelle Perdu (Vite Cheval).