Private purchase Porta Fortuna hands Dettori 80th Royal Ascot win with brilliant Albany victory

Porta Fortuna, a private purchase by Avenue Bloodstock in conjunction with Philip Shelton of Medallion Racing, confirmed she was a filly out of the top drawer on Friday with a brilliant winning performance in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot for owners Barry Fowler/Medallion Racing ’20/Steve Weston/Dean Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.

The Donnacha O’Brien-trained daughter of Caravaggio was purchased following her debut win at the Curragh and quickly vindicated that decision next time out when landing the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes at Naas.

Partnered on Friday by Frankie Dettori, Porta Fortuna made smooth headway on the bridle from the rear of the field to join the leaders two furlongs out before quickening clear for a length success over Matrika.

The filly provided her popular jockey – who is due to retire at the end of the year – with a memorable landmark victory.

“Eighty winners at Royal Ascot – unbelievable!” said Dettori. “I’ve fulfilled my dream. Ascot has always been special to me, I love it so much, and to reach 80 winners is incredible. I’m only thinking about the next race now, but I’m enjoying the moment.”

Now unbeaten in three starts, Porta Fortuna has a host of top-level options now on the horizon including the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

“She’s a very smart filly, and big congratulations to all the owners, they spotted her potential early and bought into her and the plan was to come here and it is great that it has come off,” said Donnacha O’Brien. “She travelled really well, she quickened smartly but she kept going to the line well. She’s just a very smart filly.

“She is quite a scopey filly – the Breeders’ Cup will be a target, whether she will stay that far or not we will see. We will see how she comes out of the race, then we will make a plan.”

He added: “It means a lot. It’s very special. I don’t know how many seconds I had here as a jockey, but it’s a very hard place to get winners and I’m very grateful to get one. It’s a lot more special training winners than riding them as a lot goes into it – you’re not just getting the leg up before the race – although there are a lot more ways you can mess it up!”

Porta Fortuna was bred by Whisperview Trading out of Too Precious, a winning Holy Roman Emperor sister to Group 1 Doomben Cup runner-up Numerian.

Porta Fortuna’s win came on the same day that breeze-up purchase Gunzberg broke her maiden for Paddy Twomey at Down Royal. The Sioux Nation filly, who was bought from Grace Nagle and Gary Bloodstock at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale on behalf of Alymer Stud, was making only her second start following a creditable debut third behind Albany runner-up Matrika, and looks likely to hold her own in better company.