WINTERBOTTOM Stakes winner Ortensia has been declared a certain Brisbane winter carnival "player" following the announcement she will be a beneficiary of an all-expenses-paid invitation courtesy of the State Government-backed Queensland Events.

The Brisbane Racing Club, in association with Queensland Events, yesterday announced the winners of 10 Group 1 events from the states of Australia and New Zealand will have rolled-gold invitations to participate in the winter carnival. The winners will be given invitations to start in the Group 1 events, the Queensland Oaks and AAMI Stradbroke, both at Eagle Farm in June.

The Treasury Casino Oaks races targeted are: Victoria Oaks, ATC Oaks, Australasian Oaks, West Australian Oaks and New Zealand Oaks.

The Stradbroke lead-up events to attract the invitations are: Telegraph Stakes (run in New Zealand on Saturday), Winterbottom Stakes (Perth), Newmarket (Flemington), T. J. Smith (Randwick) and Goodwood (Morphettville).

Ortensia was successful in the Winterbottom at the Perth summer carnival and trainer Paul Messara already has assured BRC officials she will be back for another winter carnival assault.

BRC chairman Kevin Dixon said Queensland Events' underwriting of the travelling costs plus entry fees for any horse which took up the challenge would ensure the "best of the best" had the opportunity to compete a ... [Read More]