International Group 1 winner Ortensia has come through her Nunthorpe Stakes victory unscathed and will now head towards the Group 1 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Haydock on Saturday week.

Ortensia has been confirmed to run in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock. Photo by: Taron Clarke

It was always the plan to chase a second Group 1 title on British soil but trainer Paul Messara confirmed the news this morning when announcing Ortenisa had pulled up well following Friday’s win.

“Ortenisa has come through the Nunthorpe with flying colours. Next stop Sprint Cup,” Messara said on twitter.

When beating home Spirit Quartz and Hamish McGonagall at York on Friday, Ortensia achieved the impressive feat of scoring victory at the top tier in three continents.

The Nunthorpe result came as a surprise to Messara who originally thought the seven-year-old would struggle on a track that he said was the equivalent of a heavy 8 in Australia.

But the conditions failed to nullify Ortenisa’s turn of foot who came from worse than midfield at the half way point of the 1000-metre sprint to produce a flying finish and claim her third Group 1 success.

The Nuthorpe victory has seen Ortensia installed as $4.00 favourite for her next international test with Bated Breath the next best in the market at $6.00.

The British sprinter finished sixth to the Australian mare in Saturday’s hitout and is still chasing an elusive Group 1 victory.

Bated Breath trainer Roger Charlton said on his website following Friday’s race that he was pleased with the performance but is hoping for a dryer track at Haydock.

“As long as Bated Breath remains in good shape he will be aimed at the Haydock Betfred Sprint Cup in two weeks where I hope we will see the return of fast ground,” Charlton said.