Tom Marquand

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...

Capping her career in style, Brightwalton Bloodstock's Makarova (GB) (Acclamation {GB}--Vesnina {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) signed off with a gallant success in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. Having shown how much she relishes a slow surface when taking the G3 Sandown Sprint Stakes in July, the Ed Walker-trained 5-year-old from an esteemed Cheveley Park family had put up an ideal prep when third behind Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in last month's G1 Flying Five at The Curragh but still traded at an inflated and overly-generous...

'If Carslberg did weekends' was the caption on Tom Marquand's social media post beneath a photograph of the jockey with his wife, Hollie Doyle, after she had won her second Group 1 of the year aboard Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}). Marquand had himself lifted both of Leopardstown's Group 1 races the previous day with two of the best three-year-olds currently in training, Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio). Their mantelpiece may soon need reinforcement.  There are few sports in which men and women take each...

Tom Marquand had a tactical dilemma from the outside stall in Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, but what could have been a disaster was quickly turned around as the rider excelled in steering Isa Salman Al Khalifa's Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--La Pomme D'Amour (GB) (Peintre Celebre) to glory in the feature. Sent forward from the compromising draw to keep Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) hemmed in to his inner, the 7-4 favourite had first run on last year's winner and swooped to the...

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...

Setting the form standard in Saturday's G3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton, having finished third in York's G3 Gimcrack Stakes, Adrian Keatley's Symbol Of Strength (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}--Symbol Of Love {GB}, by Shamardal) mastered the challenge to continue his upward trajectory on the Polytrack. Settled in mid-division early by Tom Marquand, the 5-2 favourite was delivered to overwhelm Jouncy (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) inside the last 100 yards en route to a half-length verdict over that rival, with Brian (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}) another head back in third. "I think he hated...

Rockcliffe Stud's Listed Empress Stakes victrix Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Pepita {Ire}, by Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who collected minor prizes in last month's G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Molecomb Stakes, regained the winning thread with a pillar-to-post victory in Thursday's G2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York. The 13-2 chance broke sharply and seized an immediate lead in this six-furlong 2-year-old contest. Holding a slender advantage throughout, she came under pressure soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out inside the final furlong to hold the late charge...

Dunchurch Lodge Stud's homebred filly First Instinct (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a 2-year-old daughter of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), made a winning debut over six furlongs in Tuesday's Weatherbys Global Stallions App EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes at Nottingham. 2nd-Nottingham, £6,899, Mdn, 8-13, 2yo, f, 6f 18yT, 1:14.44, g/f. FIRST INSTINCT (GB) (f, 2, Bated Breath {GB}--Proportional {GB} {G1SW-Fr, $357,727}, by Beat Hollow {GB}) dwelt at the break and raced towards the rear through halfway in this unveiling. Coming under pressure to reduce arrears approaching...

The G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is often a battle of the stalwarts, those that fall a notch under the elite, and it was the turn of Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}--Mondelice {GB}, by Montjeu {Ire}) to enjoy his moment in the European limelight after Sunday's renewal. Running over a barely-tried mile and a half having finished third over the trip last time in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, Mohamed Obaida's 6-year-old was buried under cover early by Tom Marquand awaiting the instruction. Given the office approaching...

Rockcliffe Stud's homebred Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Pepita {Ire}, by Sir Prancealot {Ire}) followed up a May 24 debut seventh at Goodwood with a breakthrough score at Windsor earlier this month and continued on a roll with a career high in Saturday's Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket. The Ed Walker trainee broke sharply from the stands' side stall and seized an immediate advantage in this black-type bow. In command throughout, the 9-1 chance came under pressure when threatened passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly up...

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...

York's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. played host to one who put some pyrotechnics into the current season on Thursday, but there was a twist in the tail at the end of the Derby's premier trial as the impressive Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--La Pomme D'Amour {GB}, by Peintre Celebre) will not be at Epsom on the first Saturday in June. Off the mark over a mile at Newbury last month, Isa Salman Al Khalifa's 160,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 purchase had been removed from the Blue Riband...