Porta Fortuna sells for 4,500,000gns

The journey of a lifetime for Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Dean Reeves and Barry Fowler came to a close on Tuesday night as their Cartier Champion Porta Fortuna sold for 4,500,000gns to MV Magnier in front of a packed ring during the Sceptre Session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

A private purchase early on in her 2yo career by Avenue Bloodstock, the Caravaggio filly was trained by Donnacha O’Brien to win the Gr.3 Albany Stakes and Gr.1 Cheveley Park Stakes at two, the Gr.1 Coronation, Falmouth and Matron Stakes at three and the the Gr.2 Blandford Stakes on her sole start at four.

“I was talking to my wife earlier – this is why everybody tries to be in the game to have horses like this,” said an emotional Philip Shelton, Medallion’s racing manager. “I can remember Mark Taylor was a bit soured on us owning European racehorses and then Porta Fortuna started winning and Balantina has since won the Breeders’ Cup for us. 

“For our partnership and me personally, Porta Fortuna has taken us to a stratosphere that we could never have dreamed about. It’s been a huge honour and a privilege to be a part of the journey.

“It’s not often you have this unbelievable race record and then you pull this filly out of the stall and they’re as nice-looking as she is. She’s got a real presence and unbelievable mind, and I think that’s why she was so impressive on the track.

He added: “You’re more nervous before a race but I was pacing back there [in the sales yard]. There was this pressure coming in. This was the end of our chapter and it’s been the most unbelievable journey and we wanted it to go well, more for her because we’re already so far ahead financially. At the end of the day, she didn’t owe us anything. She’s going to a great home and it’ll be fun to watch it. I’m happy for Donnacha as she’ll be right down the road from them. 

“Horses are just amazing. They can bring you to places and experiences that you never dream about. And when you look back, you realise how fortunate you are. We were lucky enough to buy in and it’s been the great start of a journey with Donnacha – we have a bunch of horses with him now.”

Porta Fortuna joins Lush Lips as Medallion-raced Gr.1 winners to have sold for seven figures at auction this winter. Lush Lips recently topped the Keeneland November Sale at $3.7 million.