Porta Fortuna (Ire)

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...

Continuing spirited trade for yearlings by young stallions, Monday's seventh session of the Keeneland September Sale was led by freshman sire McKinzie, who has his first crop of 2-year-olds this season. Leading the fray was Hip 2197, a colt that brought $475,000 from Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. The second highest priced yearling of the session, also the day's topping filly, was Hip 2116, by Maxfield. Offered by Runnymede Farm, the daughter of Marwa (GB) was purchased by AMO Racing USA. At the conclusion of Monday's session, a total of 288 head...

Proving herself the complete racing machine on Saturday, Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Barry Fowler and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) added Leopardstown's G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes to her already enviable top-level tally with the minimum of fuss. Coming of age this summer with wins in the G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Falmouth Stakes, the pride and joy of Donnacha O'Brien's stable who had also captured last year's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes was a touch free and fresh in the...

As admirably straightforward as she is classy, Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing and Reeves Racing's G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) took her latest task in her stride when dominating Friday's G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. Always travelling comfortably tracking the pace under Ryan Moore, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained 10-11 favourite was left in front approaching the two-furlong pole and despite drifting right when in the clear was able to open up a 3 3/4-length...

Newmarket's July Festival witnessed some smart performances from big names on the opening day and Friday's action looks set to follow that pattern with Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) the leading lady in the feature G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes. Surprisingly, she has proven adept at this mile despite showing abundant pace as a juvenile when winning the G3 Albany Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes. Runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas, the filly who races for Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing and Reeves Racing went to Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation Stakes...

Ryan Moore has been booked for the ride on the G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in Friday's G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, for which seven fillies and mares were confirmed on Wednesday morning. With no Ballydoyle representative in the line-up, Moore is free to link up with the Donnacha O'Brien-trained filly, racing for the Medallion-Weston-Fowler-Reeves partnership, with Oisin Murphy who steered her to success in the Cheveley Park back on David Howden's G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner Running Lion (GB)...

Donnacha O'Brien trainee and G1 1000 Guineas second Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who won the G3 Albany Stakes on this day last year, doubled her elite-level tally when emerging best in a stellar renewal of Friday's G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Last term's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine raced in a handy third after an alert getaway and slipstreamed Opera Singer (Justify) from halfway as Juddmonte's Skellet (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) set the tone up front. Shaken up when angled to the outer...

If you believe that Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the best stayer to emerge from Ballydoyle since Yeats (Ire), then it could be said that all those that lined up for last year's G1 Gold Cup in his absence were granted a stay of execution. Back to Royal Ascot on Thursday with his severe injury woes behind him, the latest sakura from the ever-flourishing branch of one of Moyglare's great trees is one of the week's major stories. Aidan O'Brien described ahead of last year's G1 Irish St Leger bid...

Wednesday saw the draw made for Friday's two group 1 contests at Royal Ascot, with the 10 fillies set to contest the Coronation S. headed by Ballydoyle's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer (Justify) and Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Opera Singer, who was returning from a setback when third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, has drawn an outside stall in nine for the mile feature while the Roger Varian-trained Newmarket Classic heroine is in seven. James Doyle takes over from Silvestre De...

The first entries for the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. were released on Tuesday, with 32 fillies and mares in contention for the feature race on the second day of Newmarket's July Festival on Friday, July 12. Joseph O'Brien has the strongest hand numerically with five entries, headed by last year's G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. heroine Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is among the favourites to defend her crown when she returns to Royal Ascot on Wednesday. Aidan O'Brien is responsible for four possible runners, including Opera Singer (Justify),...

Like Saturday's 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) introduced on the all-weather during the winter, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's blueblood Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) arrived late on the scene to emerge triumphant in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and cause a second weekend surprise in Newmarket's mile Classics. Coming off her debut success at Southwell in late November to finish a staying-on third in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury last month, the Roger Varian-trained daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl...

The first British fillies' Classic of the season sees a fairly even split of homebreds versus sales graduates. The latter group features a seven-figure filly--Ylang Ylang--all the way down to a €20,000 purchase in Tamfana. Several of these are also related to noteworthy Classic winners, but Guineas form is few and far between. May the best filly win. For the full Guineas field, please click here.   CINDERELLA'S DREAM (GB) Shamardal--Espadrille (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) Pedigree/form notes: The Godolphin homebred and second foal out of her winning dam is undefeated in...