Donnacha happy with Porta Fortuna's Breeders' Cup preparations
Second in last year's Juvenile Fillies Turf - she goes against the boys in the Mile at Del Mar
Saturday, 02 November 2024
Donnacha O'Brien's stable star Porta Fortuna is stepping up to face the boys in the Breeders' Cup Mile (Racing Post Photos)
The quality of the race makes this the best she's ever faced but she's been progressing with every run this season and she's earned her right to have a crack against the boys. - Donnacha O'Brien
Donnacha O'Brien has waited 12 long months but he's back at the Breeders' Cup and not looking to return with nothing to declare again, writes James Toney at Del Mar.
Father Aidan is now a 20-time winner at racing's World Championships while brother Joseph became the youngest trainer to win in the meeting's history when Iridessa was victorious in 2019.
Last year the 26-year old thought he'd completed the family set, only to see Porta Fortuna edged out into second in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
She's dominated her own sex over a mile in recent months, underlining her Breeders' Cup credentials with a win in the Matron Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival.
And O'Brien believes she can show her class again, as she takes on the boys for the first time in the $2m Mile, where Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech heads an all-star international cast.
Ryan Moore piloted O'Brien's star filly to victory in the Falmouth Stakes but will be in the saddle for Aidan, who fires Diego Velazquez at a race he won with Order of Australia in 2020.
That means Tom Marquand gets the nod, having guided Porta Fortuna in three of her four races, including her last win at Leopardstown and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"The quality of the race makes this the best she's ever faced but she's been progressing with every run this season and she's earned her right to have a crack against the boys," said O'Brien, who is saddling just his third runner at the Breeders' Cup.
"She ran a brilliant race last year but it just wasn't quite enough but she's really versatile and that's a big advantage to racing in America. She's travelled over well and seems in good form here."
Being quick out of the gate is vital for the Mile, with Porta Fortuna drawn seven, meaning Marquand will be under pressure to secure a position for the race to the wire.
"Tom knows her very well and he knows how to ride a Breeders' Cup winner too, it's great we've got him to ride her again," said O'Brien.
O'Brien has been coming to the Breeders' Cup long enough to know the interest that attracts his father's runners, with a phalanx of photographers following every gentle canter on the gallops of the Ballydoyle string this week.
However, City of Troy's bid for the Classic - a renewal Donnacha knows his father prizes more than any other - has moved things to another level.
That race goes to post nearly two hours before Porta Fortuna is on the track, with the Mile scheduled for
4.45pm local time (11.45pm).
"There's a lot of things that are hard to predict because it's his (City of Troy) first time racing on dirt but I think it's the best chance for a very long time," he added.
"There won't be too many complaints about the draw - he has the right attributes to break well, set an early pace and sustain a strong gallop.
"If he can get comfortable early, settle in those first few furlongs, I think he'll go on and win it. I think we'll have a good idea of his chance very early in the race."
Father Aidan is now a 20-time winner at racing's World Championships while brother Joseph became the youngest trainer to win in the meeting's history when Iridessa was victorious in 2019.
Last year the 26-year old thought he'd completed the family set, only to see Porta Fortuna edged out into second in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
She's dominated her own sex over a mile in recent months, underlining her Breeders' Cup credentials with a win in the Matron Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival.
And O'Brien believes she can show her class again, as she takes on the boys for the first time in the $2m Mile, where Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech heads an all-star international cast.
Ryan Moore piloted O'Brien's star filly to victory in the Falmouth Stakes but will be in the saddle for Aidan, who fires Diego Velazquez at a race he won with Order of Australia in 2020.
That means Tom Marquand gets the nod, having guided Porta Fortuna in three of her four races, including her last win at Leopardstown and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"The quality of the race makes this the best she's ever faced but she's been progressing with every run this season and she's earned her right to have a crack against the boys," said O'Brien, who is saddling just his third runner at the Breeders' Cup.
"She ran a brilliant race last year but it just wasn't quite enough but she's really versatile and that's a big advantage to racing in America. She's travelled over well and seems in good form here."
Being quick out of the gate is vital for the Mile, with Porta Fortuna drawn seven, meaning Marquand will be under pressure to secure a position for the race to the wire.
"Tom knows her very well and he knows how to ride a Breeders' Cup winner too, it's great we've got him to ride her again," said O'Brien.
O'Brien has been coming to the Breeders' Cup long enough to know the interest that attracts his father's runners, with a phalanx of photographers following every gentle canter on the gallops of the Ballydoyle string this week.
However, City of Troy's bid for the Classic - a renewal Donnacha knows his father prizes more than any other - has moved things to another level.
That race goes to post nearly two hours before Porta Fortuna is on the track, with the Mile scheduled for
4.45pm local time (11.45pm).
"There's a lot of things that are hard to predict because it's his (City of Troy) first time racing on dirt but I think it's the best chance for a very long time," he added.
"There won't be too many complaints about the draw - he has the right attributes to break well, set an early pace and sustain a strong gallop.
"If he can get comfortable early, settle in those first few furlongs, I think he'll go on and win it. I think we'll have a good idea of his chance very early in the race."