Porta Fortuna could be aimed at a Guineas trial in the spring following her narrow defeat at the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday.
The daughter of Caravaggio has enjoyed an excellent campaign for trainer Donnacha O’Brien, highlighted by her big-race wins in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Cheveley Park at Newmarket.
Stepping up to a mile for the first time for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Porta Fortuna was beaten just half a length into second by Hard To Justify and will now be given a well-earned break.
O’Brien said: “She ran very well and we were delighted with her. Obviously she’s had a long season, for her to be holding her form this late in the year shows how brave a filly she is.
“I think she got the trip well, it wasn’t an issue, and we’re going to give her a good break now.
“I’m not sure exactly when she’ll be back out, but we might look at a Guineas trial over seven furlongs to try to get a read on her and see whether we go back sprinting or go back to a mile.
“That would be the thinking for now, but obviously it’s a long way away.”
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Donnacha O’Brien has confirmed his Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Porta Fortuna to be firmly on course for a trip to the Breeders’ Cup next month.
Winner of the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier in the year, the daughter of Caravaggio was subsequently placed in the Phoenix Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes before making it third time lucky at Group One level at Newmarket late last month.
Each of Porta Fortuna’s four wins to date have come over six furlongs and she has not yet raced beyond seven, but O’Brien is happy to roll the dice over a mile in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on November 3.
Donnacha O’Brien is looking to the Breeders’ Cup with Porta Fortuna (Niall Carson/PA)
“She’s back in good form and the plan is to go to America with her, all being well,” he said.
“We’ll find out on the day about the trip. If she’s going to get the mile anywhere, it will be at the Breeders’ Cup.
“She handles fast ground and she’s plenty of experience so we’re looking forward to it.”
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Porta Fortuna came out on top for Donnacha O’Brien in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
A 9-2 chance under Oisin Murphy, the Caravaggio filly gravitated towards the centre of the track and travelled in the outer of the two groups throughout the six-furlong Group One.
The field spread across the course in the closing stages and from the middle Porta Fortuna – winner of the Albany at Royal Ascot – was able to accelerate past her rivals to emerge victorious by a length and a half.
O’Brien said: “She is a smart filly. That is the first time she has had proper quick ground since Ascot and she seems to be a lot better on it back to six. She is a very good filly. I think she is fine at seven, but I think ground is important to her as she seems to be a lot better on better ground as she travels and quickens.
“She hit the line strong and the plan is to go to the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Fillies’ Turf) and that is a mile. We think there is every chance she will get that as well.
“Her performance in the Albany was probably one of the best performances of any filly and then she has probably run a little bit below par on slow ground on her last two runs and that is why she was a bit bigger in the betting, but thankfully she came back to her form today.
“She is very uncomplicated and very easy to train and usually the good ones are. She is owned by an American syndicate and the plan was to go to the Breeders’ Cup at the end of the year if that was how it turned out, so that is what we will do.
He added: “There is a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then, but I suppose we would start her off in a trial over seven and make a decision then whether we go sprinting or go for the Guineas.
“It is always hard to win Group Ones and anytime you get one it is fantastic.”
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Porta Fortuna could be set for a step up in trip for the Moyglare Stud Stakes following her second in the Phoenix Stakes.
Donnacha O’Brien’s youngster was unbeaten in her first three starts, landing a Curragh maiden before scooping Group Three honours at Naas and moving on to Royal Ascot, where she provided her handler with his first winner at the big meeting when finding the target under Frankie Dettori in the Albany Stakes.
Tasked with both taking on the colts and moving up to Group One company at the Curragh, she may have lost her unbeaten record, but her reputation remained unblemished having chased home impressive winner Bucanero Fuerte for the silver medal.
The daughter of Caravaggio is now set to return to competing against her own sex as connections contemplate a move up to seven furlongs for the Moyglare on September 10, with Newmarket’s Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (September 30) another Group One contest for which Porta Fortuna holds an entry.
Frankie Dettori celebrates at Ascot with a flying dismount from Porta Fortuna (John Walton/PA)
“She ran really well and we were delighted with her,” said O’Brien.
“We’re still not 100 per cent sure, but there’s a good chance we will take a look at the Moyglare and we will train her towards that and see. She will have the option of the Cheveley Park after that also.
“I think she has plenty of speed, so I think six or seven furlongs won’t be a problem either way and she’s open to either.
“The winner looked a good horse and to go against the colts isn’t easy but she ran really well.”
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Donnacha O’Brien is confident his Royal Ascot heroine Porta Fortuna can give the colts a run for their money in Saturday’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
Having won a Curragh maiden and a Group Three at Naas in the spring, the daughter of Caravaggio completed her hat-trick in the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting under Frankie Dettori.
Connections had the option of keeping Porta Fortuna against her own sex in the Lowther at York later this month, but O’Brien is happy to roll the dice against the boys in a bid for Group One glory.
He said: “She’s won two Group races now, two Group Threes, so I suppose the next step now is to let her have a go at a Group One.
“The Lowther is a Group Two and we said we’d let her take her chance in a Group One.
“She’s in good form and working well, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Oisin Murphy takes over in the saddle aboard Porta Fortuna, who is one of seven juveniles declared for the six-furlong contest.
River Tiber does not run in the Phoenix Stakes (John Walton/PA)
Aidan O’Brien, Donnacha’s father, will rely on Railway Stakes second and third Unquestionable and His Majesty in his bid for a remarkable 18th Phoenix Stakes success, having decided against running his unbeaten Coventry Stakes winner River Tiber.
Other leading contenders include Adrian Murray’s Coventry third and Railway winner Bucanero Fuerte and Jessica Harrington’s Coventry fourth Givemethebeatboys.
“It looks like he (River Tiber) is going to go for the Prix Morny, but it’s still a very competitive field,” Donnacha O’Brien added.
“There’s three or four there that are very close on ratings, there’s a few that could win it. It’s a very open race and it should be good.”
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Royal Ascot scorer Porta Fortuna could be tasked with taking on the colts following her impressive triumph at the summer showpiece last month.
The daughter of Caravaggio provided Frankie Dettori with his 80th winner at the Royal meeting when storming to Albany Stakes success and the form of that victory was given an immediate boost when the runner-up Matrika won the Group Two Airlie Stud Stakes only eight days later.
Having now struck twice at Group Three level in her three appearances to date, trainer Donnacha O’Brien is keen to keep his unbeaten filly at six furlongs for the time being and she could get the chance to showcase her talent in Group One company if lining up in the Curragh’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes on August 12.
O’Brien said: “She’s very good and has come out of the race well. We gave her an easy week after the race to freshen her up and she’s back in full work now and everything is going well.
“She’s very straightforward and I suppose she’s a dream filly to ride as she has plenty of pace, travels well, has a turn of foot and also keeps going at the end as well. She’s just a very smart filly.
“We’re thinking of going for the Phoenix at the minute, the Group One at the Curragh. We’ll have to take on colts, but we’d like to give her another run at six. We’ll put her in the Lowther (York, August 24) as well as a back-up, that’s about a week or two afterwards.”
Porta Fortuna after winning the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
Connections then hope all roads will lead to the Breeders’ Cup, where Porta Fortuna’s American owners will have the opportunity to cheer on their filly in their own backyard.
“I suppose later on in the year the targets will be races like the Cheveley Park (Newmarket, September 30) and the Breeders’ Cup,” added O’Brien.
“We’ve got a few more runs to go before we get there so I’m sure we’ll learn a bit more about her by the time, but the obvious one would be the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf (Santa Anita, November 3) unless for some reason we thought we would go back in trip to the (Juvenile Turf) Sprint.
Trainer Donnacha O’Brien is aiming high with Porta Fortuna (Niall Carson/PA)
“The Breeders’ Cup was always the main aim for her at the end of the year, but she’s got a few races to go first and we’ll take each one at a time.”
Porta Fortuna is not the only filly at O’Brien’s Tipperary base with the potential to become a high-ranking two-year-old and the handler also has lofty ambitions for the Niarchos family-owned Mysteries who opened her account in good style at Cork.
“She’s a lovely filly and one we’ve always thought plenty of,” continued the Group One-winning trainer.
— Irishracing.com Live (@IrishRacing365) June 16, 2023
“The plan at the minute is to go for the Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown (July 27) and then for a seven-furlong filly there’s a very obvious programme, so it will be there, the Debutante (August 19) and the Moyglare (September 10), all being well.”
Meanwhile, one-time Derby hope Alder is on the comeback trail from the setback which ruled him out of Classic action and could return at Dundalk in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Diamond Stakes on September 29 before getting his passport stamped at the back-end of the year.
“He’s good and we gave him a bit of a break but he’s back in work now,” said O’Brien.
“I’m provisionally aiming him at a Listed race in Dundalk in September and then all being well, we could potentially go travelling with him after that.”
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Porta Fortuna registered an impressive success in the Albany Stakes to provide Frankie Dettori with his 80th Royal Ascot win.
Having ridden Gregory and Courage Mon Ami to success, the retiring Italian notched up his third victory of the week when guiding the Donnacha O’Brien-trained youngster to a one-length triumph.
A winner of a Group Three at Naas over this six-furlong distance on her previous start, the daughter of Caravaggio put her experience to good use with a professional display in Berkshire.
Porta Fortuna leads them home in the Albany Stakes
Having cruised stylishly into contention passing the two-furlong marker, the well-backed 5-1 winner responded gamely to her rider’s urgings in the closing stages as Dettori pushed his mount out with vigour to hold off the Aidan O’Brien-trained Matrika, who finished second having been up with the pace throughout.
The trainer enjoyed many big days in the saddle, but was securing his first winner at the summer showpiece in the training ranks, joining his father and brother Joseph on the Royal Ascot roll of honour.
Dettori said: “It’s brilliant to get 80. I had that figure in my mind all week, 100%.
“I thought, ‘God, I’ve got to get three’. It is easier said than done, but now that I’ve done it ‘Yes!’ it is a big number!”
Frankie Dettori celebrates his 80th Royal Ascot winner (John Walton/PA)
Dettori’s family have been on course all week and daughter Mia was in the winner’s enclosure.
She said: “It is amazing having a dad like him, especially when you are at the races. It is like you get the whole excitement which you wouldn’t otherwise get.
“It’s great to be here for his last year here. The whole family are coming at some point. It would be great if he finished on top at Royal Ascot as the top jockey – that would be the dream.”
While Dettori was racking up another Ascot landmark, O’Brien was delighted to get off the mark with a filly who changed hands after her debut win.
Frankie Dettori celebrates with a flying dismount (David Davies/PA)
He said: “It means a lot (to train a first Royal Ascot winner).
“She is a very smart filly, and big congratulations to all the owners, they spotted her potential early and bought into her and the plan was to come here and it is great that it has come off.
“She travelled really well, she is a very good filly, she quickened smartly but she kept going to the line well. She is just a very smart filly.
“We’ll take her home and see how she comes out of it. She is quite a scopey filly – she is owned by a bunch of American owners so the Breeders’ Cup will be a target, whether she will stay that far or not we will see.
“We will see how she comes out of the race, then we will make a plan.”
Aidan O’Brien was satisfied with the second and said: “Delighted, she ran a really good race. A lazy worker and doesn’t show you much at home. But we were very happy with that.”
Soprano finished third and her trainer George Boughey expects her to step up again over longer distances.
He said: “I am delighted with her. She looked like she was probably drawn on the wrong side unfortunately, but we are thrilled.
“She’s a filly that is always going to get further. She’s out of a sister to a Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and that’s where her future lies, probably up in trip.
“They just had a little bit too much toe for her and sprinted away, but she hit the line strong.”
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Porta Fortuna put herself in the Royal Ascot picture when holding on from the fast-finishing Navassa Island to claim the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes at Naas.
Donnacha O’Brien’s youngster was sent off 8-1 for the Group Three contest on the back of a winning debut at the Curragh last month and with many of the market protagonists – including 13-8 favourite Ribchestina – setting a brisk pace, Porta Fortuna was able to track those on the front end and get a good tow into the contest.
When push came to shove at the furlong pole, Porta Fortuna was still full of running as Gavin Ryan urged his mount to take the lead and having shot clear with half a furlong left to run, she kept on strongly when Michael O’Callaghan’s newcomer Navassa Island burst out of the pack and was eating into her advantage with every stride.
“We thought she was a nice filly, but obviously you never expect to win a Group race with a filly that’s had one run. It’s nice to see her handle the step up in class well,” said O’Brien.
“She has a really good pedigree, back along there are a lot of good horses in it.
“She was bought by some American partners, it’s great for them and exciting. We’ll speak to them now, but there is probably a good chance she’ll go to Ascot.”
Having taken the step up to six furlongs in her stride, the Albany Stakes is now the obvious next port of call for the daughter of Caravaggio, with Betfair and Paddy Power both cutting the filly to 6-1 from 20s.
Trainer Donnacha O’Brien has his string in good order (Niall Carson/PA)
“If she goes it will probably be for the Albany, she looked to get a stiff six furlongs here well,” continued O’Brien.
“She handles all kinds of ground so I wouldn’t be worried either way.
“We’ve had some maiden winners and it’s nice to see that they are improving, even though they are fairly ready early they are able to step up in class. That’s a good sign.”
O’Brien’s hand in the two-year-old races at the summer showpiece could be strengthened by Devious, who is on course to line up in the Coventry Stakes.
A two-length winner at Naas on debut, the son of Starspangledbanner is readily available at 16-1 for the opening day two-year-old contest. However, he is as short as 8-1 with William Hill, and O’Brien holds the colt in high regard.
“We think he’s a very smart horse,” he said. “He’s in good form and the plan is to go straight to the Coventry with him.
“That won’t be an easy task, but we think he’s smart.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cd764c8b-78f1-4a7a-a67f-0d4c957dcfa9-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-05-21 14:36:462023-05-21 17:00:11Albany plans for Naas scorer Porta Fortuna
Goldana made a winning start for Joseph O’Brien in the Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes at the Curragh.
The daughter of Galileo Gold was previously trained in Germany by Peter Schiergen and was an impressive six-length winner of a Listed contest at Hannover in October – her final start before transferring to the Owning Hill handler for €130,000.
Sent off at 17-2 for her Irish debut in this Group Three event, jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle kept the four-year-old hot on the tail of the pace-setting favourite Mea Domina throughout and although she looked in trouble with McMonagle getting serious inside the final quarter-mile, Goldana knuckled down gamely to soon assert her dominance and surge clear in the shadow of the post.
Goldana (17-2) had it all to do inside the final 150 yards, but her stamina kicked in for @DylanBrowneMcM, who seized the Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes from the brave Mea Domina 👀@JosephOBrien2pic.twitter.com/qAJKSqSGxk
“I’m delighted for the owners. It’s their first horse with me and she looks a smart filly going forward,” said O’Brien.
“She had good form on slow ground in Germany and it’s nice to start off the season with a Group win for her.
“We bought her in Arqana last year and she is a sister to Love Reigns who is a smart filly for Wesley Ward. She has a pedigree and was a Listed winner already.
Goldana makes a winning debut for Joseph O’Brien (PA)
“She won her Listed race over nine furlongs so she’ll probably stay a bit further. It looked as though she got a little bit outpaced when they quickened up, but she came good in the last 100 yards.
“She has loads of options and there is a lovely programme for fillies. The Athasi back here may come a bit quick for her.”
Aidan O’Brien wasted little time getting on the scoresheet when Democracy landed the opening Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden in taking fashion.
Sent off the even-money favourite for the six-furlong content, the son of No Nay Never always looked to have plenty lurking under the bonnet and quickened away smartly from the opposition inside the final furlong.
He was the best part of three lengths clear at the line and with the full-brother to Richard Fahey’s Midnight Mile impressing the master of Ballydoyle, O’Brien indicated he could soon return to the Kildare track for the GAIN First Flier Stakes on May 1.
He said: “You’d have to be very happy with that on very deep ground. He travelled very well and when Wayne (Lordan) dropped him down to go he was a little bit lost on that ground but he would never have seen that ground before.
“It was a good education for him. He has plenty of speed and I’d say he’s a classy horse. He’s big and he’s strong and very laid back.
“There is a Listed race (First Flier) back here in a few weeks and we could look at that.”
Donnacha O’Brien is another eyeing Pattern company next following Porta Fortuna’s triumph at 9-2 in the Irish National Stud And Gardens Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
Porta Fortuna won nicely at the Curragh (PA)
He said: “She was our first two-year-old runner so it was good to see her do that. I thought she was a nice filly, but it’s hard to judge when you haven’t run one.
“Gavin (Lynch) said he followed the one that there was a bit of money for and he got the gap at the right time and she quickened up well.”
“We might have a look at a Group race for fillies at Naas next month. She has plenty of scope so is not just a five-furlong filly.”
Bright Legend showed huge improvement on his second outing to land a blow for Fozzy Stack in the Tote Fantasy Who’s In Your Stable Irish EBF Maiden.
Fozzy Stack’s Bright Legend gets off the mark (PA)
“He stays well and likes that ground,” said Stack.
“He’s a very big horse and still has a lot of maturing to do. He’ll probably be a better horse next year.
“We’ll probably try to find a winners’ race for him.
“He ran away from the whip and he did well to get him organised again. He gave him a good ride.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/271777119-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-04-16 15:48:452023-04-16 15:50:23Goldana sparkles on first start for Joseph O’Brien
Aidan O’Brien wasted little time getting on the scoresheet at the Curragh when Democracy landed the opening Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden in taking fashion.
Sent off the even-money favourite for the six-furlong content, the son of No Nay Never always looked to have plenty lurking under the bonnet and quickened away smartly from the opposition inside the final furlong.
He was the best part of three lengths clear at the line and with the full-brother to Richard Fahey’s Midnight Mile impressing the master of Ballydoyle, O’Brien indicated he could soon return to the Kildare track for the GAIN First Flier Stakes on May 1.
No Nay Never juvenile Democracy wins on debut and is "something to look forward to," says jockey Wayne Lordan on the Ballydoyle colt at The Curragh Racecourse 👀 pic.twitter.com/DI6lmcSxuS
He said: “You’d have to be very happy with that on very deep ground. He travelled very well and when Wayne (Lordan) dropped him down to go he was a little bit lost on that ground but he would never have seen that ground before.
“It was a good education for him. He has plenty of speed and I’d say he’s a classy horse. He’s big and he’s strong and very laid back.
“There is a Listed race (First Flier) back here in a few weeks and we could look at that.”
Donnacha O’Brien is another eyeing Pattern company next following Porta Fortuna’s triumph at 9-2 in the Irish National Stud And Gardens Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
Porta Fortuna won nicely at the Curragh (PA)
He said: “She was our first two-year-old runner so it was good to see her do that. I thought she was a nice filly, but it’s hard to judge when you haven’t run one.
“Gavin (Lynch) said he followed the one that there was a bit of money for and he got the gap at the right time and she quickened up well.”
“We might have a look at a Group race for fillies at Naas next month. She has plenty of scope so is not just a five-furlong filly.”
Bright Legend showed huge improvement on his second outing to land a blow for Fozzy Stack in the Tote Fantasy Who’s In Your Stable Irish EBF Maiden.
Fozzy Stack’s Bright Legend gets off the mark (PA)
“He stays well and likes that ground,” said Stack.
“He’s a very big horse and still has a lot of maturing to do. He’ll probably be a better horse next year.
“We’ll probably try to find a winners’ race for him.
“He ran away from the whip and he did well to get him organised again. He gave him a good ride.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/6a9cf733-9eba-4839-8fe0-b8e8ea635b17.jpg8001600Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-04-16 13:07:272023-04-16 15:30:24Democracy rules at the Curragh with impressive debut
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