Porta Fortuna is a filly that hasn’t shirked a challenge in her short career. Already a Group 1 winner courtesy of her win in last year’s Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, she’d won at Royal Ascot last year and had been placed in a Breeders Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf and a 1,000 Guineas.
That glittering CV was not enough to grant her top billing in the betting market with betting apps in Australia for the Coronation Stakes and she went off third favourite behind the highest rated two-year-old filly of last season, Opera Singer, and the French raider Ramatuelle, who many considered unlucky when third to Porta Fortuna’s second in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
In the race Ryan Moore had Opera Singer out smartly, looking to play to the stamina in his filly’s pedigree. She was challenged for the lead by Ralph Beckett’s Skellet and Porta Fortuna was settled in behind the pair in third.
The order remained unchanged until the two furlong pole when Skellet started to fade leaving Opera Singer in front. Meanwhile Porta Fortuna was still slipstreaming Opera Singer and it was another half a furlong before jockey Tom Marquand brought his filly out to challenge and it was one she didn’t shy away from, staying on past her rival to win by a length.
Porta Fortuna had been trainer Donnacha O’Brien’s first Royal Ascot winner when she’d won the Albany Stakes at last year’s meeting and now she provided his second. Still some way to go to match his father, Aidan, who had notched his 90th Royal meeting winner earlier in the day.
Donnacha was keen to underline the qualities that are apparent from Porta Fortuna’s race record. “She relaxes, she quickens, she stays, she tries. She’s a joy of a filly to have. I was happy the whole way, everything went to plan. It’s not too often you can say that. I’m delighted. All along she hasn’t got the credit she deserves. She’s never missed a beat.”
Jockey Marquand, who’d had a quiet enough meeting up to that point, was grateful to have been given the opportunity on the filly. “These rides are hard enough to come by, let alone to keep, and I’m very fortunate to be on board today. Donnacha’s family are woven into racing history but they are a young team, so to be on one for them is fantastic. Any Royal Ascot winner is good but ones like this are pretty special.”
While Aidan O’Brien would have been hoping to win the defeat would have been tempered by the fact that not only did his son train the winner but the filly was also bred by Aidan’s daughter Ana. No matter which way you look at Ascot, an O’Brien is likely to be making the headlines.
A wonderful win by Porta Fortuna in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, for Medallion Racing @TMPartnerships, Reeves, Weston & Fowler! Superbly trained by Donnacha O’Brien! A perfect ride by @TomMarquand! This filly was an @AvenueBstock @pshelton8 purchase!
🎩🇮🇪🇺🇸🐎🎯 pic.twitter.com/MCGNHIyEy7— Mark McStay 🇺🇦 (@mcstayagent) June 21, 2024
