Champion Porta Fortuna brilliant in G2 return to cap Curragh treble

Porta Fortuna made a brilliant return to the track for Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Reeves Thoroughbreds and Barry Fowler on Sunday when taking the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes to cap a winning treble for horses purchased by Avenue Bloodstock.

Shouldering a penalty and making her first start since November, last year’s Cartier Champion 3yo Filly was always travelling well for Ryan Moore and having kicked clear a furlong out, had enough in reserve to score from One Look.

It was the eighth Group win for £1.4 million earner Porta Fortuna, who captured the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes as a 2yo and Group 1 Coronation, Falmouth and Matron Stakes during her championship season at three for Donnacha O’Brien.

“It was a lovely starting point for her. She did things right, relaxed nicely and quickened up well,” said O’Brien. “Ryan said she got a little bit idle in front. That’s beautiful and should set her up nicely for Ascot now.

“The Queen Anne seems likely, we have the option of that or the Duke Of Cambridge but I think when she won so nicely and she’s training good and she’s happy and healthy I think we have to look at the Queen Anne.”

When asked if the Breeders Cup would be the target again, he said: “We’ll see what happens. It was a target last year and the year before so it seems like an obvious possibility at the end of the year.

“We’ll get through the rest of the year and see how she is and hatch a plan then.”

Ryan Moore added: “She is very straightforward, she’s a very good filly and is an absolute pleasure to ride.

“She was on the outside and I probably had to move up a little bit earlier than ideal. She took me there going well with a furlong and a half to go.

“She was a little bit idle inside the last 100 yards, but it was her first run back and she carried a penalty. She’s a high-class filly.

“Donnacha is very good at targeting these big races. He has done a fantastic job with some of these fillies. Hopefully she’ll go there (Royal Ascot) with a big chance.”

Porta Fortuna was a private purchase by Avenue Bloodstock in conjunction with Philip Shelton of Medallion Racing. The daughter of Caravaggio was bred by Whisperview Trading out of the Holy Roman Emperor mare Too Precious.

Also at the Curragh, Balantina ran out the impressive winner of the opening 5f 2yo fillies maiden. Sporting the colours of Steve Weston and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and also trained by Donnacha O’Brien, the daughter of Ten Sovereigns made all to win by a length.

Group fillies such as Albigna, Zarinsk and Heaven’s Gate have won this maiden in recent years and O’Brien is hopeful that Balatina can take her chance in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot – a race connections won two years ago with Porta Fortuna.

“I’d say there is probably a good chance that Balantina could take her chance in the Albany,” he said.

Balantina was purchased by Avenue Bloodstock, Parkland and Bawnmore at last year’s Arqana August Sale. She was bred by Lynch Bages, Summerhill and Camas Park out of the Montjeu mare Balankiyla, also the dam of Group 3 winner Baiykara.

A memorable day for connections was capped in the final race of the card by the tough win of Sharpen in the 10f maiden. By Fastnet Rock and out of the Siyouni mare Sheranda, she was a Goffs Orby yearling purchase with Kim Valerio from her breeder Marhill House Stud.

“She’s a very nice filly,” said Donnacha O’Brien. “Gavin gave her a lovely ride. It’s a nice way to finish off the day.

“A lot of the guys were over from America. Steve (Weston) flew in and had three winners today so that’s invaluable to us.”