Tag: Donnacha O’Brien

80 Up For Frankie As Caravaggio’s Porta Fortuna Wins The Albany

Frankie got going early on Friday as he steered Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing 2020 LLC and Reeves Racing's Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio–Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) to success in the G3 Albany S. for a landmark 80th Royal Ascot winner. Sent off at 5-1 having garnered Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. last month, the Donnacha O'Brien trainee travelled smoothly over two lengths behind the speed up the centre.

Arriving to reel in Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) passing the furlong pole, Porta Fortuna who was bought by Mark McStay from Annemarie O'Brien following her success in a five-furlong Curragh maiden in April beat Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star by a length. Highclere Throughbred Racing's Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), representing the George Boughey stable which was fifth with the subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) two years ago, was the same margin away in third.

“I fulfilled my dream,” Frankie said. “I love Ascot so much, it's always been good to me and to get 80 is unbelievable. This is a solid filly–she's speedy, she's got a turn of foot and she gave me an armchair ride. At the moment this filly feels like a sprinter, but only time will tell.”

Donnacha, who was celebrating his first Royal winner, added, “Porta Fortuna is a very smart filly and big congratulations to all the owners–they spotted her potential early and bought into her. She is quite a scopey filly–she is owned by a bunch of American owners, so the Breeders' Cup will be a target but whether she will stay that far or not we will see. It is a big gamble to buy a filly out of a maiden, but they have been proven right so fair play to them.”

Boughey said of Soprano, “She looked like she was probably drawn on the wrong side unfortunately, but we are thrilled. She's a filly that is always going to get further. She's out of a sister to a Breeders' Cup Mile winner and that's where her future lies, probably up in trip. They just had a little bit too much toe for her and sprinted away, but she hit the line strong.”

Pedigree Notes

Porta Fortuna is the first of three foals produced by Too Precious (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a full-sister to the G2 P.J. O'Shea S. winner and G1 Australian Cup runner-up Numerian (Ire) and the G3 Prix Francois Boutin third Montesilvano (Ire). The third dam Kantikoy (GB) (Alzao) is a half to the G3 St Simon S. scorer and G1 Irish St Leger-placed Kithanga (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) who produced the St Leger hero and Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Milan (GB) (Sadler's Wells). This Fittocks Stud family also includes this meeting's G2 Queen's Vase winner Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and last month's Listed Cocked Hat S. runner-up Klondike (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). The dam's yearling filly is by Ten Sovereigns (Ire), while she also has a filly foal by Sottsass (Fr).

For more on Porta Fortuna's journey to Royal Ascot, please click here, and for a post-race update, click here.

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ALBANY S.-G3, £100,000, Ascot, 6-23, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:13.97, g/f.
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
O-Steve Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing & Reeves Thoroughbreds; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £56,710. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 3-3-0-0, $128,010. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Matrika (Ire), 128, f, 2, No Nay Never–Muravka (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith & Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,500.
3–Soprano (Ire), 128, f, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Lealas Daughter (Ire), by Excelebration (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€45,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 100,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Da Vinci); B-Empire Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-George Boughey. £10,760.
Margins: 1, 1, 1HF. Odds: 5.00, 9.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Persian Dreamer, Pretty Crystal (Ire), Komat (GB), Dawn Charger (Ire), Carla's Way (Ire), Gushing Gold (Ire), Navassa Island (Ire), Jabaara (Ire), Passionately (Ire), Do It With Style (Ire), Rating (Ire), Flaccianello (Ire), Mapmaker (GB), Sarakana (Ire). Scratched: Snafiya (Ire).

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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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Caravaggio’s Porta Fortuna On Top At Naas

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).

 

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Proud And Regal Targets Irish 2000 Guineas

Group 1 winner Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), third in Leopardstown's G3 Derby Trial S., will cut back in trip for the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas in late May, trainer Donnacha O'Brien revealed on Tuesday.

“I thought he travelled really well [at Leopardstown],” said O'Brien. “There's definitely a chance that he will get 10 furlongs and we could be going back there after the Guineas, but the plan is to go to the Curragh for the Irish Guineas.”

Raced by the Coolmore partners, the 2022 G1 Criterium International hero was second in the G2 Futurity S. in August and second in the G1 National S. at the Curragh a month later, prior to his Saint-Cloud heroics. A winner of the G3 Tyros S. in July, Proud And Regal's Derby Trial effort was his most recent.

O'Brien also gave an update on Listed Dee S. runner-up Alder (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who will travel to Epsom Downs for the G1 Betfred Derby on the first Saturday in June.

“We're aiming at the Epsom Derby,” he added. “I think it is an open race. I think he got in a poor position at Chester off a very slow pace, on ground he wouldn't like, and he just hung in behind the winner in the last furlong.

“But I think it was a very decent run from him. We think he's a good horse and he's going to be a much better horse on better ground over a mile and a half.”

As a juvenile, Alder was third in the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S., and won his 3-year-old bow, a 10-furlong race at Cork, in April.

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