Donnacha O'Brien is looking forward to taking on the boys with Porta Fortuna (Ire) when she bids for her fourth top-level victory of the campaign in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar on Saturday, November 2.
The daughter of Caravaggio has been on a roll since returning to action this season with a narrow defeat to Elmalka (GB) in the 1,000 Guineas, subsequently reeling off a Group 1 hat-trick in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
All roads now lead back to the Breeders' Cup for Porta Fortuna and a potential clash with the likes of Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Ramatuelle (Justify) as she tries to go one place better than when runner-up in last year's Juvenile Fillies Turf.
“She has a few more bits of work to go, but all is going well so far and we're on track,” O'Brien said of his stable star. “It's going to be a very good race and it is probably going to be the strongest field she has ever faced. She's a filly who is progressing with every run and she's enjoyed a super season, so I think she has deserved a crack against the boys and we will see what she can do.
“She ran a cracker at the Breeders' Cup last year. She's the kind of filly who is very tactically versatile in terms of European racing, but it is also a big advantage when you go to America. It means you can break on terms and get a decent position if you get a good draw, which is obviously going to be very important. I'm looking forward to getting her back over there.”
O'Brien also reported that Tom Marquand, who has been in the saddle for all but one of Porta Fortuna's four starts this season, is likely to continue his association with the filly at Del Mar.
He continued, “I think Tom Marquand will ride her. He's going to be over there for Big Evs and a couple of other horses and he obviously rode a Breeders' Cup winner last year. He knows her very well and I'm not sure if it's 100 per cent confirmed, but it's looking like it will be Tom.”
As well as saddling Porta Fortuna at the Breeders' Cup, O'Brien will be firmly in the corner of his father's City Of Troy (Justify) when the brilliant Derby winner lines up in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
The Classic is one of the few big races on the world stage to have so far eluded Aidan O'Brien, but his son is optimistic that City Of Troy could be the horse to deliver a famous success.
“I think it's very hard to predict what a horse will do on dirt, but in my opinion it is the biggest chance he [Aidan] has had in a long time,” added O'Brien. “He's a horse that looks like he has the right attributes. He has early pace and is able to sustain a strong gallop, which you have to be able to do in America.
“I think draw and pace and just how the race works out for him will be very important, but I think if he could just get comfortable in the first few furlongs, I fancy him to go and win it. You will know after the first half-mile how it is going to go, but I think he is a best chance he will have had in a long time.”
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