A long association with a special horse lead Hanna Orting to try her hand in the training ranks, and the Auckland horsewoman captured her first win in the role at Ruakaka on Wednesday.
Based out of Pukekohe Park, Orting took out her training license this season and entered the winner’s circle with just her second runner, lightly-tried four-year-old mare Hadid.
A daughter of Charm Spirit, Hadid was having her sixth race-day start and first under Orting, and the mare took control of The Homestead Bar and Bistro (1200m) from the outset, and kicked boldly in the straight to fend off the race-favourite in La Parisienne.
Orting had hoped for a strong showing from the Tony and Nikki Brown-owned mare, who is a half-sister to Roccia, a winner of five races and a fourth-placegetter in this year’s Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m).
“I thought she would go well because she’s been training well, and it was a pretty weak field today,” she said.
“I’ll try to find another nice race for her, possibly up at Ruakaka with the good tracks.
“I’m good friends with Tony and Nikki’s daughter Sienna, I used to work with her. I got to know the family and got the horse through them.”
Originally hailing from Sweden, Orting began her journey in racing in her homeland, before moving out to New Zealand to work for champion trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, alongside her sister Sophia (Nolan).
“I got into racing back home in Sweden, when I was about 14 or 15 riding trackwork,” Orting said.
“I worked for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman for eight years, first riding trackwork then I ended up being foreman at the stable. I did a lot of travelling for them, they’ve been very good to me.”
At the Cambridge stable, Orting formed a close bond with Group One winner Aegon, and the talented gelding ended up taking her across the globe to Sha Tin and Australia for major races.
“I looked after Aegon for about four years, and he’s taken me pretty much around the world. He’s done a lot for me,” she said.
“He definitely made me think about having a go at training too, he was a one in a million horse. Hopefully one day I find one like him to train.”
Orting still works closely with Sophia and her husband Derek Nolan, who operate their South Auckland-based facility Lilywhites Lodge, specialising in breaking in, pre-training and Ready To Run Sale drafts.
Nolan has also been in the winner’s circle as a trainer, with her short career highlighted by multiple-stakes performer Master Brutus.
“I lease a few boxes from her, and I train my horses out at their property which works really well. I come into Pukekohe if they need a good gallop, but mainly they are worked at home,” Orting said.
“I have three in training at the moment, so hopefully I can get some more horses and then more winners, those are my main goals to start off with.”
