Matrika Returns In The Nell Gwyn

Long absent but certainly not forgotten by the racing intelligentsia, TDN Rising Star Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) stages her comeback in a renewal of Newmarket's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. on Wednesday that could yet determine the shape of next month's G1 1000 Guineas. While seen generally as an understudy to Ballydoyle's sidelined Opera Singer (Justify) and other TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Classic picture throughout the winter weeks, there is time for her to emerge as a leading light with this seven-furlong prep sure to provide evidence as to her true merit.

Aidan O'Brien spoke of how Matrika was not inclined to give her all last term and that looked the case despite her winning on debut at The Curragh and in that venue's G2 Airlie Stud S. Runner-up to Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. in the interim, she remains one of the budding Rosegreen prospects that could materialise into a top-level performer.

Ryan Moore said, “We didn't see her after that win in July, but the fact that she is here speaks for itself, Aidan has his horses in very good nick and, while she has plenty of speed, I'd have thought she will get the extra furlong here okay.”

 

Continuing The Sequence?

In general, Charlie Appleby's horses perform to a high level at this Craven meeting and in some ways their performances give a barometer as to what type of season he will have. The yard's leading Guineas hope Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has little to prove, having already garnered the important juvenile staging post of the course-and-distance G3 Oh So Sharp S. and she heads into this trial as the hot favourite. “Dance Sequence has done very well over the winter,” Appleby said. “She looks the one to beat again.”

KHK Racing Ltd's True Cyan (Ire) is another daughter of No Nay Never with big upside, being out of the multiple group winner Realtra (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and a course-and-distance winner from the Roger Varian stable. Chris Wall, racing manager to owner Shaikh Khalid, said, “She's wintered well, she's been training satisfactorily, we're hopeful of a positive effort and then we'll take it from there. If you're going to be stakes class, you'll have to be up there competing with them and if not, we'll have to go down another route with her.”

 

Narkez Tests The Waters As Fabre Descends On Newmarket Again…

Andre Fabre has never made any secret of his regard for the track at Newmarket and it is notable that he ships across Nurlan Bizakov's TDN Rising Star Narkez (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) for the nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. he won with his subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Intello (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2013. He was impressive when handing the well-regarded Supercooled (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) a 6 1/2-length beating in Saint-Cloud's Prix Comrade at a mile last month and that stablemate had been far closer to the recent G3 Prix la Force winner Atlast (Fr) (Farhh {GB}) at Chantilly in October.

“The distance should suit him with the extra furlong, as he is from a family of middle-distance horses and obviously he's in good shape,” Fabre said of the homebred, whose form is also closely linked in with Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau scorer Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}).

“I want to see how he does it because he won easily last time, beating not much, so this will be a good experience for him. If he does well, he's more of a mile-and-a-quarter horse so the Prix du Jockey Club would be a long-term target for him, but I'll be wiser after the race.”

Aidan O'Brien returns with the G3 Zetland S. runner-up Gasper De Lemos (Ire) (Justify), while Godolphin's Kempton novice scorer El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the Gredley Family's Zetland third Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) are other fascinating contenders.

Gasper De Lemos's jockey Ryan Moore is aware of the threat of the French raider. “We are happy with him coming into this race, but he will be suited by further down the line and I am always wary of an Andre Fabre horse and his Narkez won very well on his return,” he said.

 

Rhyme Run Depends On Course Walk…

Also at Newmarket, the older horses get their chance in the nine-furlong G3 Earl of Sefton S., where Karl Burke is pondering whether to let his upwardly-mobile Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) take his chance on drying ground. One of the back-end of last season's most improved 3-year-olds, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Listed Doonside Cup winner was fifth in the G1 Champion S. on his favoured deep surface.

“He's in good shape, but I'd be a bit worried about the ground and if we're not happy with it, he's a possible non-runner,” his trainer said. “If it goes on the firm side, he definitely wouldn't run and really, to be at his best, he wants a bit of soft ground.”

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The Curragh: “She’s Ready to Rock and Roll.” Is Pretty Polly-Bound Via Sistina the Real Deal?

Very few elite contests are won in the style that Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) displayed in last month's G2 Dahlia S., but Becky Hillen's star mare has to do it again at the next level in Saturday's G1 Yulong Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh. Granted more ease in the ground, trainer George Boughey is intent on pitching her against the best of the Irish in the 10-furlong test. “I've never seen her look so well and she's been training super, so it's all systems go as long we get a little bit more rain,” the trainer said of the former Joseph Tuite-trained 5-year-old, who signed off last season with a win in the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air. “She's travelled over good and she's ready to rock and roll. It's been the plan for a while and we look forward to taking them on.”

Joseph O'Brien, who was responsible for two of the last four winners, saddles TDN Rising Star Above The Curve (American Pharoah), who took all of the attention away from Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) when winning last month's G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud. Last year's G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner is one of two Coolmore hopes alongside Ballydoyle's Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is backed up 13 days after after her second in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly.

Al Riffa In International Return…
It has taken a while, but Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is back in action in the G3 Paddy Power International S. on the Pretty Polly undercard. Not sighted since winning the track's juvenile feature in September, he is giving Joseph O'Brien all the right vibes as he faces another long-absent colt in Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), last seen finishing a disappointing sixth in the Listed Chesham S. at last year's Royal Ascot.
While Alfred Munnings has to dust off the cobwebs, stablemate and fellow TDN Rising Star Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) is back just eight days after her runner-up finish in the Royal meeting's G3 Albany S. as she takes in the G2 Airlie Stud S. Three of Aidan O'Brien's last four winners of this had also been in action in Berkshire, but if this proves too quick a turnaround it may be that it benefits another with Coolmore involvement in the Joseph O'Brien-trained Grand Job (Justify) who was second in Matrika's course-and-distance maiden last month.

Return Acts At Newmarket…
The July Course's season got underway on Thursday and the action there on Saturday is not to be missed, with Charlie Appleby taking the wraps off last year's G3 Gordon S. winner and promoted G1 St Leger runner-up New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Listed Fred Archer S. “New London has had wind surgery since his last run and we have been very pleased with him at home,” his trainer said. “He has been for two racecourse gallops and this looks a good starting point for a campaign that should progress through the summer and into the autumn.”

The Fred Archer also sees the comeback of Shadwell's talented Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who looks to become the latest in a sequence to defy a lengthy lay-off having been sidelined since his win in Ascot's Listed Buckhounds S. last May. Interestingly, William Haggas also brings back another of Sheikha Hissa's stars missing in action of late in Aldaary (GB) (Territories {Ire}) in the card's G3 Criterion S.

“We need soft ground for Aldaary, I declared him when it was raining,” Haggas said of last year's impressive Listed Spring Trophy winner who has been off for the same 420-day stretch as Al Aasy. “The ground is on the slow side at Newmarket, but whether that remains the case we'll see. We can make a decision as late as we need to, but as long as it's not fast I'd say he'll probably run because he needs to get going. Al Aasy is the same, he likes a bit of cut in the ground, but he needs to start. They've both been training well, so I'm hopeful they'll run well.”

In the fixture's opening Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' S., Charlie Appleby tests the waters with TDN Rising Star Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) who dazzled at Haydock 16 days ago. She faces Ballylinch Stud's What A Question (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a key member of the Charlie Johnston juvenile academy who was impressive at Goodwood on her debut a day after her Godolphin rival.

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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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Another Ballydoyle No Nay Never TDN Rising Star Emerges

When it comes to the maidens at The Curragh's Irish Guineas weekend, it has become essential to follow Aidan O'Brien's chosen runners with the following year's Classics in mind and Sunday's Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden produced a winner in Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never–Muravka {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) who very much gave that vibe. Following the TDN Rising Star label handed to the yard's Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) on Saturday, the same honour is bestowed on this debutante who went two places better in the six-furlong maiden than her classy stablemate Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had done 12 months ago.

Sent forward from the break by Ryan Moore, the market-weak 6-1 shot travelled strongly throughout in the front line and always looked comfortable exposed without cover before beginning to assert from the furlong pole. There is nothing in the winning margins of 3/4 of a length and a neck to the Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien-trained Grand Job (Justify) and Mysteries (Ire) (No Nay Never) respectively, or the unspectacular winning time, to suggest this was a TDN Rising Star-type performance but it is all about the future with this full-sister to Unicorn Lion (Ire) and The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}).

Most of the stable's eventual group 1 fillies do not win by far on debut and it is more the manner of her success that suggests she can soon dine at the top table. Another TDN Rising Star in the armada to head to Royal Ascot, the imposing bay has apparently turned being laid-back into an art form at Rosegreen. “She's been very idle and lazy at home and so has been working in blinkers–she was declared in them and they were on and off about three or four times since, but Wayne [Lordan] who rides her in all her work decided last minute to leave them off,” the master of Ballydoyle explained. “It was his call and the right one, so it was lovely to see her doing that. She is totally asleep all the time at home, but now she's done that first time we could leave the blinkers off again for the [G3] Albany. She could be one of those lazy workers and that is often a good thing. I think Joseph and Donnacha liked their fillies, which is a good sign.”

Matrika is the eighth TDN Rising Star for her sire, with Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Little Big Bear (Ire) the obvious picks of them.

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