By Sean Cronin
Donnacha O'Brien trainee Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio–Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) posted a debut win over five furlongs at the Curragh last month and punched a ticket to Royal Ascot with a determined success in Sunday's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. Naas.
She was positioned within range of the leaders in a close eighth through the early stages and tanked forward once past halfway. Shaken up at the quarter-mile marker, the 8-1 chance quickened smartly to seize control approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the latter stages to hold the late charge of Navassa Island (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) by a neck. The duo finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of the pack, headed by Launch (Omaha Beach) in third.
“We thought she was a nice filly, but obviously you never expect to win a Group race with a filly that's had just one run,” O'Brien said. “It's nice to see her handle the step up in class well. 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 [Royal] Ascot now. If she goes it will probably be for the [G3] Albany as she looked to get a stiff six furlongs here well. She handles all kinds of ground, so I wouldn't be worried either way.”
Pedigree Notes
Porta Fortuna is the first of three reported foals produced by multiple winner Too Precious (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), herself a full-sister to GSW G1 Australian Cup second Numerian (Ire) and G3 Prix Francois Boutin third Montesilvano (Ire). The January-foaled bay, who hails from the family of G1 St Leger-winning sire Milan (GB) (Sadler's Wells), is half to a yearling filly by Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and a weanling filly by Sottsass (Fr).
Sunday, Naas, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD IRISH EBF FILLIES SPRINT S.-G3, €70,000, Naas, 5-21, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT, 1:09.99, gd.
1–PORTA FORTUNA (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Too Precious (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
2nd Dam: Delicate Charm (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
3rd Dam: Kantikoy (GB), by Alzao
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing 2020 LLC, Steven I Weston & Reeves Thoroughbred; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien; J-Gavin Ryan. €42,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $56,474. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Navassa Island (Ire), 128, f, 2, Territories (Ire)–Roger Sez (Ire), by Red Clubs (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (92,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT; 240,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O/T-Michael O'Callaghan; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE). €14,000.
3–Launch, 128, f, 2, Omaha Beach–Spark, by Speightstown. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Giselle De Aguiar; B-Peter E Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Adrian Murray. €7,000.
Margins: NK, 4HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 8.00, 14.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Ribchestina (Ire), Blame Thechampagne (Ire), Ziggy's Dream (Ire), Smart Impression (Ire), What A Squeeze (Ire), Bated Moon (Ire), Making Time (Ire), Jakku (Ire), West Of Wichita (Ire), Neo Smart (Ire).
Still unbeaten! 🏇
Porta Fortuna shows a bright turn of foot entering the final furlong to land a Group 3 @NaasRacecourse on just her second career start.
The front two came nicely clear and the winner is now a single-figure price for the Albany Stakes.@JosephOBrien2 pic.twitter.com/CtxHWfzW37
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 21, 2023
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