The admirable Porta Fortuna (10-11 Favourite) took her race record to six wins from 10 starts with earnings of over £1 million when landing the third Group One victory of her career in today’s Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, the highlight of Festival Friday at The July Festival. The £275,000 mile contest for fillies and mares is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
The three-year-old Caravaggio filly raced prominently and took the lead two furlongs out. The result was not in doubt thereafter as she stayed on strongly to win by three and three-quarter lengths from Jabaara (18-1) with another head back to Rogue Millennium (9-1) and A Lilac Rolla (9-2), who dead-heated for third place.
Successful trainer Donnacha O’Brien said: “She seemed very impressive and Ryan said she has such a good temperament – she pings the gates and then she relaxes. You can make the running with her or sit out the back as she is so easy. She probably wants quick ground but has decent form on slower ground anywhere from six furlongs to a mile – she is just so uncomplicated.
“She had been working well since Royal Ascot and everything went very smooth. 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).
“They are a fantastic group of owners and so easy to train for (Medallion Racing/Steve Weston/Barry Fowler/Dean Reeves) – I am delighted for them and deeply privileged to train for them.
“This filly means a lot. We don’t have a massive number of horses and it’s always about trying to find one good one every year that can represent you in Group Ones. To have one like her who is so easy to train and always brings her A game is a dream.”
Winning jockey Ryan Moore said: “She is a really good filly – very straightforward and very professional. She has been on the go since she was a two-year-old and has won at Royal Ascot twice. She is a credit to Donnacha and his team.
“It didn’t go her way today. She was fast out the gates and I thought we might just get a lead off Running Lion but she stopped a long way out and we were left in front which wasn’t ideal but she has a super attitude and is obviously a very good filly. I was never worried but it just wasn’t ideal.
“She has handled a lot already and never run a bad race. She has always shown plenty and is an Albany and Cheveley Park winner, run well at a Breeders’ Cup, finished second in a Guineas and won a Coronation. She is obviously a very straightforward filly and seems to handle most things that are thrown at her. The way she has handled her contemporaries and older fillies today shows she is very tough.”
