G1 successes headline memorable 2023

The win of Porta Fortuna in the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in September provided a real exclamation point on a memorable year for Avenue Bloodstock.

The Caravaggio filly was a private purchase on behalf of a partnership comprising Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing, Steve Weston and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing following her debut victory for Donnacha O’Brien at the Curragh in April. She took her new owners on a fantastic journey after that, winning the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes at Naas prior to handing Frankie Dettori his 80th Royal Ascot success when striking in the G3 Albany Stakes. She later  acquitted herself well against colts when second in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes and having run a good third on a step up to 7f in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, gained a deserved G1 breakthrough in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes back down at 6f. This admirably tough filly went on to sign off her year with a game second to Hard To Justify in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Frankie Dettori after winning the Albany Stakes on Porta Fortuna at Royal Ascot. Photo – Racingfotos.com

Never out of the first three in seven starts last season, Porta Fortuna enters her three-year-old year with a host of G1 options open to her.

In America, Anisette rapidly developed into the one of the best turf performers based in California. A private purchase out of Britain in late 2022 in conjunction with Aron Wellman on behalf of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Anisette hit the ground running in California with trainer Leonard Powell, capturing the G2 San Clemente Stakes en route to an emphatic success in the G1 Del Mar Oaks. Also second in the G2 Rodeo Drive Stakes and G3 Autumn Miss Stakes, the Awtaad filly is due to run in the G1 American Oaks at Santa Anita on Boxing Day.

Another private purchase, Papilio, also had a productive season in the US, winning the G2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland in the colours of D. J. Stable LLC, Medallion Racing, Barry Fowler and Parkland Thoroughbreds. Trainer Mark Casse later saddled the Starspangledbanner filly to run third in the G1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks at Saratoga.

Meanwhile, Bon Ho’s colours were carried to victory at a high level in both hemispheres. Canberra Legend, a yearling purchase out of Tattersalls October Book 1, began his season by winning the Listed bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket while Arqana October yearling buy Land Legend progressed through the ranks to cap his year with a victory in the A$500,000 ATC St Leger Stakes at Randwick in Australia. Both are trained by James Ferguson, while James Fanshawe also saddled yearling purchase Novel Legend to win three races for Bon Ho.

Land Legend romps to victory in the ATC St Leger. Photo – Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Bon Ho’s Cool Legend, a son of Sea The Stars bought at the Arqana August Sale, also looked a colt to follow when breaking his maiden in good fashion at Kempton recently for William Haggas.

A successful year in Australia also featured Arapaho’s win in the G1 Kia Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. Bought for €140,000 by Avenue Bloodstock at the 2020 Arqana Autumn Sale in conjunction with his trainer Bjorn Baker and Clarke Bloodstock, the son of Lope De Vega now boasts eight wins and earnings of almost A$2 million.

Closer to home, breeze-up purchase Letsbefrankaboutit won the G3 The Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh on only his second start for Eamon Water’s Alymer Stud and trainer Paddy Twomey. There are also high hopes for the Paddy Twomey-trained Purple Lily, another breeze-up graduate who is the winner of her only start at Galway, and Noche Magica, who ran a close second in the G3 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes, All the top sprint targets beckon for Mohammed Al Saboosi’s colt next season.

Letsbefrankaboutit’s Round Tower win in August followed hot on the heels of that of Sea Theme in the Listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting. Owned by Sheikh Juma Dalmook al Maktoum and trained by William Haggas, the Sea The Stars filly was bought by Avenue Bloodstock on behalf of her owner at the 2021 Arqana August Sale.

We were also delighted to present our first draft of horses for sale at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. They included Sulaalat, the dam of G2 Rockwell Stakes winner Carla’s Way who sold for 210,000gns.

We would like to thank all our clients for their support this year and wish everyone a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.