‘A very good filly’ – Porta Fortuna follows up in G1 Falmouth Stakes

Fresh off her victory in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, Porta Fortuna consolidated her place as one of Europe’s leading three-year-old fillies on Friday with an authoritative win in the G1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, her third success at the highest level.

The daughter of Caravaggio was a private purchase by Avenue Bloodstock in conjunction with Philip Shelton of Medallion Racing following her debut success as a two-year-old and has mixed it with the best of company for trainer Donnacha O’Brien since then. 

Porta Fortuna followed up her maiden win by taking the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes and G3 Albany Stakes, and having run placed in both the G1 Phoenix and Moyglare Stud Stakes, then captured her first G1 in the Cheveley Park Stakes. She signed off her juvenile campaign with a narrow second in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. 

Brought back for the G1 1,000 Guineas on her seasonal debut at Newmarket, she ran another excellent race to finish a neck second to the winner Elmalka. From there, the filly headed to Royal Ascot for the G1 Coronation Stakes where she turned the tables on Elmalka to win from Opera Singer in emphatic fashion.

Friday’s performance was similarly no nonsense. Sent off the 10/11 favourite, she struck for home two furlongs out under Ryan Moore and kicked clear for a near four length score.

“She’s a very good filly,” said Ryan Moore. “She’s always shown plenty. She’s never run a bad race and she handles most things that are thrown her way.

“Today she was fast out of the gate and Running Lion didn’t take me that far, but she was in command throughout the race; she’s a very straightforward filly.”

“Porta Fortuna had been working well since Royal Ascot and everything went very smooth,” said Donnacha O’Brien. “We were very happy coming here although a short price favourite in a Group One race is always a bit of pressure. The Coronation looked like a strong race as all the best three-year-olds were there and it’s nice to now see her go and prove herself against older horses. 

“We will take her home and see she is healthy and happy before deciding where she goes next. Coming here today, we thought we’d probably give her a break before coming back for the Matron Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend in September. We could then look at going to the Sun Chariot before going to America (for the Breeders’ Cup), which will be tough but all of her owners are American, so it would be nice for them, it’s always been the plan.

“They are a fantastic group of owners and so easy to train for– I am delighted for them and deeply privileged to train for them. This filly means a lot. To have one like her who is so easy to train and always brings her A game is a dream.”

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

The winner of six of her ten starts, she is now the earner of approximately £1.1 million in earnings.

Porta Fortuna storms clear to take the Falmouth Stakes. Photo – Steven Cargill / Racingfotos.com