Tag: Annemarie O’Brien

Porta Fortuna Is Medallion Racing’s Lucky Charm at Ascot

Ever since Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio)'s win in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. at Naas last month, bloodstock agent Mark McStay had been pestering Taylor Made's Mark Taylor to make his plans to come to Royal Ascot. But the Taylor family is more known for probity and hard work than they are flights of fancy, and Taylor demurred, citing preparations for upcoming sales in America.

But when Porta Fortuna launched a determined bid and got up for the win in Friday's G3 Albany S. at Ascot to give Taylor Made's Medallion Racing partnership a win at the royal meeting, Taylor couldn't be blamed for maybe having thought twice about his decision.

“It's been two and a half hours, and I think my blood pressure has just come down to the point where I can have a conversation with you that you can understand,” said Taylor, reached after the race. “I'm a very superstitious person, so the agent who helped us find this filly, Mark McStay, he has been texting me literally three times a week since she won her last race, saying, `you've got to come, you've got to come, you've got to come.' And historically, any time I go to great lengths to see a race, things never go well. So, I've got a lot going on here, I've got to get ready for sales season, I'm not going. When I was watching the race, there were 18 horses, some of the best two-year-olds that have come out in Europe so far are in this race, and I thought if we could crack the top four it would be a great accomplishment. I was trying to temper everybody's expectations, and then when she put on that move and put everybody away. It was just surreal. I was watching it, saying, `is this really happening?' It was fantastic.”

Medallion and its partners-Barry Fowler, Steve Weston and Dean Reeves-bought the filly after the win at Naas, telling the TDN at the time that the partnership tries to buy one or two horses a year in Europe.

“I was very happy for our partners, both our partners in Medallion Racing that enable our team to go build the stable and also the people that come in alongside us like Barry Fowler, Steve Weston, and Dean Reeves because they put their confidence in us. With Steve Weston and with Barry, we've bought into some horses that have gotten hurt, didn't pan out, but they've stuck with us, and to see Steve Weston's silks cross the finish line at Ascot and to see him get to lead that filly in, it just really made me so happy because he's such a loyal guy, he's such a just great human being. I was crying for him, I was just so happy for Steve.”

Mark Taylor | Fasig-Tipton photo

Taylor said that Medallion has around 25 partners, each of which invests $50,000 or more in the partnership. The group raises from $1.2 million to $1.7 million every two years, only buys proven horses, and every partner is in on every horse.

“Our model is we buy all female horses and we buy horses that have already run who we believe have graded stakes talent off of what they've done so far. A lot of times, we have to pay; we're not stealing these horses. Everybody would like to go in and buy them, but we're also willing to let the existing partners stay in. A lot of times, we can leave them with the same trainer.”

In Porta Fortuna's case, they left her with her trainer, Donnacha O'Brien, son of the original owner, Annemarie O'Brien. Taylor said he felt that it was accommodations like that which help them to get a leg up on others who might be offering more.

“We try to be very accommodating partners, which allows us to get a crack,” he said. “Even though somebody else might offer more money, they're going to take the whole horse and do their own thing. So we try to be more flexible and just allow our people to participate on stages like Royal Ascot or the Kentucky Oaks or the Breeders' Cup or Grade Ones at big racetracks. Our theory is that once people get a taste of that, they might want to play on their own and take it to a larger level, or they might want to stay with this model. We have had some people that have gone outside and tried to do it themselves, which is great. It drives investment in the game.”

Porta Fortuna was well-represented by her American owners at Ascot this week, with Medallion's Philip Shelton as well as Reeves, Fowler and Weston, and at least six additional Medallion members on hand for the win. Ironically enough, it wasn't Taylor Made's only connections to succeed at Ascot this week. Other Taylor Made customers, Black Ridge Stable, won the Queen Mary with Crimson Advocate (Nyquist).

“We were going crazy for her when they won the other day, and then in my superstitious mind, I was like, `Well, there's no way two horses are going to win at Ascot with Taylor Made connections.' For it to happen twice, it was beyond words.”

In addition to creating and nurturing new owners, Medallion also has a goal of showing off the sport at its best.

“In Medallion, we want to educate the people who come into the sport about all aspects of racing, including international racing, and to showcase to them how well these horses are taken care of. So many people look at our sport and say negative comments like, `These horses are just pawns in this big game,' but they're really not. We partner with people and we employ trainers that really care about these horses. And we try to shed light on that anytime we can so that our partners can see these horses are really loved, they're cared about, and we cheer for them and love them whether they win or lose.”

And even if he wasn't on hand, Taylor said he'd celebrate the win in typical Ascot-and typical Taylor–fashion. “I will drink some champagne,” he said. “But I'll wait until 5:00 tonight.”

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New American Owners of Porta Fortuna Happy to Be Ascot-Bound

When Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio {Ire}) won the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. at Naas on Sunday, there was a collective cheer from her new partners across the pond.

Medallion Racing, a racing partnership put together by Taylor Made Farm, bought the two-year-old filly after her five-furlong win at the Curragh in April with partners Barry Fowler, Steve Weston and Dean Reeves. She took the Sunday stakes at Naas in just her second start, her first for the new partners, and now will head to Royal Ascot.

“We traditionally try to buy one to two horses a cycle from Europe,” said Medallion's Phillip Shelton. “We find that the prices are a little more reasonable, and you can find a horse with Grade I potential. We bought a filly named Papilio (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) last year from Europe who won the Grade II Appalachian at Keeneland in April.”

“We loved the way this filly quickened on debut,” Shelton continued. “She was a bit green and never looked like she was going to win until she made up a couple of lengths in what felt like a few strides. The group stakes schedule gives you an immediate shot at group black type. In America there isn't a graded stakes for two-year-old fillies on grass until September.”

Originally owned by Annemarie O'Brien, Porta Fortuna stayed with her son, trainer Donnacha, despite the switch in owners.

“We work with Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock and we started discussing if there was a deal to be done. Luckily, we were able to get a deal done, and were happy to keep the filly with Donnacha,” said Shelton. “We couldn't do any of it without our partners who trust us to put them in on the right horses. Our Medallion partners have been great, as well as Steve Weston and Barry Fowler, who are two of our biggest supporters, and partners on Papilio as well. This is the first horse we have had with Dean Reeves, but he has been a Taylor Made customer in the past. All of our yearlings are broken at Two Springs Farm, of Chetley and Nellie Breeden's. Dean owns the farm and we got to spend some time together this winter talking about trying to find the right horse to partner on.”

“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.”

As to which race they'll target at Ascot, “We'll leave that up to Donnacha,” said Shelton. “The race today was a stiff six furlongs and she quickened really well, so the Group 3 Albany could suit. She probably has enough pace for the Group 2 Queen Mary if we wanted to drop her back, but we will let Donnacha guide us on the best spot.”

Said O'Brien, “If she goes it will probably be for the 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. The American partners, they liked her, they invested in her and they were dead right. She's a valuable filly now.”

Added Shelton, “We are very excited. Royal Ascot is such a special meeting, and should be on everyone's racing bucket list. We'll be going this year with a filly we think has a shot to run very well.”

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‘Tough, Genuine and Consistent’: Rock Of Gibraltar Dies at 23

Former world champion 3-year-old Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) (Danehill–Offshore Boom {GB}, by Be My Guest) has died from heart failure at Castlehyde Stud in Ireland at the age of 23.

The son of Danehill was bred by the late Joe Crowley with his daughter Annemarie and son-in-law Aidan O'Brien. He was sent into training with the latter at Ballydoyle as a juvenile in 2001, later racing for the partnership of Sir Alex Ferguson and Susan Magnier.

Rock Of Gibraltar's sensational racing career, which saw him land seven consecutive Group 1 races in 11 months, began in the April of his 2-year-old season when he broke his maiden over five furlongs in the hands of Mick Kinane at the Curragh. Kinane, Ballydoyle's stable jockey at that time, would be aboard for 12 of the colt's 13 starts, his one omission being when suspended for the 2000 Guineas. Rock Of Gibraltar, ridden that day at Newmarket by Johnny Murtagh, raced on the far side of the track, beating stablemate and race favourite Hawk Wing by a neck to land the first of his two Classic victories, with Kinane back in the saddle for his follow-up at the Curragh.

Kinane remembers his partnership with Rock Of Gibraltar as “the most fun I had riding any racehorse”.

He told TDN on Monday, “He was an exceptional racehorse. He loved racing, and he was the only horse I ever rode who would have a buck and kick and a squeal going down to the start. He had an unbelievable turn of pace. He was a fantastic miler, a brilliant 2-year-old and a brilliant 3-year-old.”

In hindsight, Rock Of Gibraltar's 2000 Guineas starting price of 9-1 seems extraordinarily generous. By the time he lined up for his seasonal debut on the Rowley Mile on May 4, 2002, he was already a dual Group 1 winner, having annexed the Grand Criterium and Dewhurst S. to conclude a juvenile campaign in which he won five of his seven races, including the G2 Gimcrack S. and G3 Railway S.

At three, he became the fifth horse in history to land the 2,000 Guineas double in Britain and Ireland, and then went on to add the St James's Palace S., Sussex S., and Prix du Moulin to his outstanding record, becoming the first horse to win seven consecutive Group 1 races in the northern hemisphere, beating a record previously held for 30 years by the great Mill Reef. In his final start, Rock Of Gibraltar was second to Domedriver (Ire), beaten less than a length in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Arlington.

Horse of the Year in 2002, Rock Of Gibraltar embarked on his stud career at Coolmore the following season, effectively replacing Mozart, another top son of Danehill who had died the previous May after only one season at stud. 'The Rock' remained in Ireland for all bar one of the subsequent years, when he stood at the Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan in 2007. His 16 Group 1 winners include the top sprinter Society Rock (Ire), Eclipse S. winner and former useful sire Mount Nelson (GB), and the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Samitar (Ire). In recent seasons Rock Of Gibraltar has featured as the broodmare sire of subsequent winners of the 2,000 Guineas, Kameko and Poetic Flare (Ire).

Rock Of Gibraltar was out of the Be My Guest mare Offshore Boom (GB), who had been bought from her breeder Moyglare Stud by Crowley and the O'Briens in 1997 for IR£11,000. One of her later foals, also by Danehill, was the G3 Derrinstown Stud  1,000 Guineas Trial runner-up Nell Gwyn (Ire).

A lengthy essay in Racehorses of 2002 perhaps summed up the late stallion's racing career of 10 wins from 13 starts best when stating, “It goes almost without saying that the hardy Timeform epithet 'tough, genuine and consistent' fits Rock Of Gibraltar to a T.”

In tribute to Rock Of Gibraltar, Paddy Fleming, stud manager at Castlehyde, said, “He was healthy and looking great right up to the end. He was a fantastic racehorse and a very good sire who will be missed by all the staff here.”

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Ana O’Brien Shares All About The Magic Behind Family-Run Whisperview Operation

Racing fans who have always had a bit of trouble believing in the magic that goes on behind the gates at Ballydoyle or at Owning Hill need not look any further than the result of last week's Ballyhane S. at Naas.

There are some people, so hell-bent in their views that the sole reason why Aidan and Joseph O'Brien have conquered some of the greatest prizes in racing, is because they have all the best horses at their disposal.

It sounds somewhat plausible, doesn't it? Aidan and Joseph have been sent the best, therefore they are the best, right? Wrong.

Aidan launched his training career by winning a slew of races with moderate horses and Joseph, who sent out his 1,000th winner at the Curragh on Saturday, essentially started out with a string of jumpers. The Ballyhane was yet another example of the O'Brien family pulling a rabbit out of the hat. 

The race was won by Voce Del Palio (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), carrying the colours of Annemarie O'Brien, whose daughter Ana rightfully points out that the big-race hero was there for everyone else to buy at the Goffs Sportsman's Sale the previous October.

Voce Del Palio | Racingfotos.com

Instead, Voce Del Palio was led out of the ring unsold at 14,000gns and that's not even the most interesting part of this story.

It is less than three years ago when Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock signed for the Juddmonte mare Caption (GB) (Motivator {GB}), in foal to Bated Breath, on behalf of the O'Brien family's Whisperview Trading.

With that resulting foal snaring the lucrative €300,000 Ballyhane last Monday, it's fair to say that the 7,500gns it took to secure Caption at that December Mares Sale at Tattersalls in 2019 has been paid back in spades, yet some people still refuse to believe in magic.

Ana O'Brien has immersed herself in bloodstock since suffering the horror fall at Killarney five years ago that cut short her successful career in the saddle. As well as consigning her own horses at the sales under the banner of Mount Richard Stud, she plays an integral role at Whisperview, but that's not to say that she will take any credit for the acquisition of Caption.

“I don't think so,” she says with typical modesty, before adding. “I think it was either Dad or Joseph to be honest. It was massive to win the Ballyhane and for the horse to run in Mum's colours was great as well.

“He actually went through the sales ring himself but didn't sell. It just goes to show, good racehorses can get overlooked at the sales. He was always a very straightforward horse and you could never fault him really.”

Caption ran three times for Sir Michael Soute and, while she showed promise, retired as a maiden with a rating of 65. However, being a daughter of a Derby winner out of an unraced sister [Razzle (Danzig)] to Danehill and countless other black-type horses, the pedigree was there.

Buyers may have missed the chance to buy Voce Del Palio at the yearling sales last year but it's unlikely that the same mistake will be made twice when Caption's yearling filly (lot 377) by Caravaggio walks through the ring at the Orby Sale at Goffs.

As for O'Brien, she is content with growing things organically at Mount Richard Stud while continuing to learn the ropes at Whisperview.

She explained, “I have only just started selling a few under Mount Richard Stud and I'm enjoying it. With regards to Whisperview, there's a massive team here.

“I sold four of my own yearlings in 2020, didn't sell any last year, but I have four more going to the yearling sales this year so I'm branching into that at the moment. I have two Saxon Warriors (Jpn), one filly and one colt, a Churchill (Ire) filly and a nice Ten Sovereigns (Ire) colt as well. I'm looking forward to them. I think they're nice horses so hopefully they do well.

“People might have the perception that we're not sellers but we are. We have to sell to keep the wheel turning. We're not afraid to sell the good ones as well because you can't keep everything. “I just figured that, by drafting horses under my own name and earning a reputation for selling good horses, it would be good to get that word out there. We'll see how it goes and I'm not making any major plans for the future. We'll see how we get on.

“I'm full-time on the farm and Niall Ryan is here with me. Niall is a huge benefit to us, he's brilliant. Obviously I was racing up until only a few years ago so I'm still learning and I couldn't ask for a better mentor than Niall. Between us, we're here every day and taking care of the place as best we can.”

On Caption, O'Brien added, “She has a Caravaggio yearling filly and a Starspangledbanner (Aus) colt foal. She's back in foal to Starspangledbanner as well. They're two lovely horses. The Caravaggio looks like she could be a very good filly so please God she turns out to be. She's going to the Orby Sale at Goffs. Like I said, we sell good ones as well.

“The Starspangledbanner is nice. Obviously foals can change a lot in a short space of time but, at the moment, we really like him. We're looking forward to all of her stock.”

The big-race success of Voce Del Palio in Annemarie's famous orange and blue silks is just the latest in a string of high-profile victories for the matriarch of one of the most successful racing families in history.

It was in those colours that four-time Group 1 winner Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) burst onto the scene by winning a Killarney on debut in 2018 before being sold privately to Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez. Her dam Senta's Dream (GB) (Danehill) has been another inexpensive purchase by the family at 14,000gns.

More recently, high-class fillies Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Brostaigh (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) have achieved notable success in the orange and blue before being sold to Scott Heider.

“It's great to see them win in our own colours but, when they go on to do well for the next person, that's also brilliant,” Ana explained.

“We're so lucky that Joseph, Donnacha and Dad are all training so, anything that doesn't get sold, they get it to train. The hope is that they can go on and make careers for themselves.”

They're not bad trainers to be able to call upon, are they Ana? But tell us, if you could pick just one, who would you rate the best of the three?

“I get a good deal with Joseph so I better say him!”

Joking aside, the success enjoyed by Whisperview in recent seasons is rivalling what Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha have been achieving on the track. The family have an unrelenting ability to produce, as well as train winners, and just like Caption, not all of the mares on the farm fetched big money at the sales.

Asked what the secret behind the success was, O'Brien said, “I suppose when you look down through the pedigrees, something might jump out at you and catch your eye.

“Going back through all of those old families, they seem to come back around at some stage. If you saw a mare who had been going to stallions that didn't suit her, that could also be of interest as, if you changed things up a bit, it might work. Now, it's often the case that it doesn't work, but sometimes you'll get lucky and it will.”

Joseph and Sarah O'Brien | Tattersalls

Not only do some of the horses bred at Whisperview benefit from being trained by Aidan, Donnacha or Joseph, they have also been given the best opportunity from the outset.

Whisperview utilises the Coolmore stallions, the majority of which were at one point in training with Aidan at Ballydoyle, and Ana believes that access is imperative to the success story.

“Sure there's no better stallions around,” Ana said, before adding, “It also goes back to my Mum's Dad [Joe Crowley]. He was a big fan of a bargain and would take a chance on something that someone else wouldn't.

“He was always great to buy something cheap and do well with it. Mum is a huge part of the operation and it wouldn't function without her. 

“Sarah [Ana's sister] is also a massive help. She is a qualified vet and, as well as helping Joseph on the veterinary side of things on the hill, she puts a lot of work in on the stud. It's a big family effort and it wouldn't function without everyone.”

“But Granddad had his own ways and, while some people would question them, most of the time it worked.”

There are some things in life that can't be explained. The O'Brien family's Midas touch with horses, be it breeding or racing them, is one of those things. It's magic.

 

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