It was hard to find a chink in Porta Fortuna’s armour going into the Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes, and even more so after the event, as Donnacha O’Brien’s three-year-old ran out a commanding winner under Tom Marquand.

The daughter of Caravaggio was sent off the 5/4 favourite, with Karl Burke’s impressive Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Fallen Angel next in the betting at 5/2, on her first start carrying the colours of Wathnan Racing. She, along with fellow British raiders Soprano and Mammas Girl, ensured a strong pace as Porta Fortuna tracked them and began to make headway from two furlongs out.

She quickened strongly to lead inside the final furlong and kept on to beat Fallen Angel by a length, with another half a length back to Soprano in third. Ylang Ylang finished well to take fourth, while Vespertilio raced wide to finish fifth.

“It’s an honour and pleasure to train her,” a delighted and relieved Donnacha O’Brien said after the race. “She’s always been good but you can never imagine that they’ll end up that good. Originally, the owners’ plan was to run a few times in Europe and take her to America, but when she was running so well…”

On his emotions watching the race, the young trainer said, “You can never be confident going into a Group 1. It was horrendous anxiety the whole race.” All roads now lead to the Breeders’ Cup for Porta Fortuna, but perhaps even more exciting is that her owners confirmed she will stay in training next year.

The O’Brien family had further reason to celebrate as Porta Fortuna was bred by Anne Marie O’Brien’s Whisperview Trading. Purchased privately by agent Mark McStay, she is now owned by Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Barry Fowler and Reeves Thoroughbreds.