PORTA Fortuna looks to hold the best chance of providing an Irish-trained Group 1 winner at next week’s July meeting in Newmarket.
The Donnacha O’Brien-trained filly is favourite for Friday’s Falmouth Stakes, where she could face a rematch with Opera Singer, the pair having finished first and second in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
Speaking at Tipperary on Wednesday, O’Brien said of the Caravaggio filly: “She’s very good and is in great form. She’s only done one bit of work since but is moving great and we’re very happy with her.”
This will be Porta Fortuna’s first race against older fillies and the opposition is likely to include the five-year-old Laurel, who made an encouraging return to action when second to Running Lion in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Saturday’s July Cup market is headed by Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin. Trained by Kevin Ryan, the three-year-old Shamardal colt will also have to face his elders for the first time, including the six-year-old Regional.
Regional, winner of the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh and runner-up in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot this season, is trained by Ed Bethell, who said: “He’s an almighty horse, no words can really describe him and I’m very lucky to be part of him. Fingers crossed he’ll go well in the July Cup, but Inisherin is going to be pretty tough to beat, I’d say.
“Every trainer needs a horse like him and I’m just lucky to have found him. Obviously there was a bit fortune involved given his price (3,500 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale), but we’re very proud of him.”
Vandeek is also the subject of good reports ahead of the July Cup. The three-year-old son of Havana Grey, unbeaten during a superb juvenile campaign, did not take his place in the Commonwealth Cup due to an abnormal blood count.
As a two-year-old he won the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood and then completed a Group 1 double in the Prix Morny at Deauville and the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Trained by the father and son duo of Simon and Ed Crisford, he was beaten on his three-year-old debut at Haydock but connections were expecting an improved display at the Royal meeting, only for a minor setback to ruin those plans.
Chris Wall, racing manager to owners KHK Racing, reported: “The Crisfords weren’t happy with how he was and his blood wasn’t right, so he didn’t go there. He’s been training nicely. He looks to be in good health, he looks very fresh and well and full of himself. The plan very much is to run him in the July Cup next week.”