‘A summer we’ll never forget’ – Porta Fortuna is crowned Cartier Champion

Porta Fortuna’s remarkable season gained deserved recognition on Wednesday when she was named Carter Champion 3yo Filly of 2024.

Owned by Barry Fowler/Medallion Racing ’20/Steve Weston/Dean Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, for whom she was a private purchase by Avenue Bloodstock in conjunction with Philip Shelton of Medallion Racing, Porta Fortuna has mixed it with the best of company for Donnacha O’Brien throughout her career.

The daughter of Caravaggio was an excellent 2yo who tasted Royal Ascot success in the G3 Albany Stakes before capturing the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

This season, Porta Fortuna has taken her form to another level.  A narrow second in the G1 1,000 Guineas on her return, she went on to sweep the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, G1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and G1 Matron Stakes at the Curragh. She stays in training for 2025.

“It’s one of those awards that you hear about but never dream about being over here to win,” said Dean Reeves. “Just to get an invitation and have a horse of that calibre to be nominated is thrilling enough for us. But to come over and win is just over the top.

“We were very close in the Guineas but when she came back and ran so well at Ascot and followed that with two Group 1 wins, it’s just something that you don’t get very often. It made the trips so much exciting and so much fun. We’ve had the ride of a lifetime – a summer that we’ll never forget.”

Porta Fortuna was bred by Whisperview Trading out of Too Precious, a winning Holy Roman Emperor sister to G1 Doomben Cup runner-up Numerian.