Albany Stakes: Frankie Dettori lands 80th Royal Ascot victory with Porta Fortuna for Donnacha O’Brien
Porta Fortuna registered an impressive success in the Albany Stakes to provide Frankie Dettori with his 80th Royal Ascot win.
Having ridden Gregory and Courage Mon Ami to success, the retiring Italian notched up his third victory of the week when guiding the Donnacha O’Brien-trained youngster to a one-length triumph.
A winner of a Group Three at Naas over this six-furlong distance on her previous start, the daughter of Caravaggio put her experience to good use with a professional display in Berkshire.
Dettori celebrates after winning the Albany Stakes on Porta Fortuna
Having cruised stylishly into contention passing the two-furlong marker, the well-backed 5-1 winner responded gamely to her rider’s urgings in the closing stages as Dettori pushed his mount out with vigor to hold off the Aidan O’Brien-trained Matrika, who finished second having been up with the pace throughout.
The trainer enjoyed many big days in the saddle, but was securing his first winner at the summer showpiece in the training ranks, joining his father and brother Joseph on the Royal Ascot roll of honour.
Dettori said: “It’s brilliant to get 80. I had that figure in my mind every week, 100 per cent.
“I thought, ‘God, I’ve got to get three’. It is easier said than done, but now that I’ve done it ‘Yes!’ it’s a big number!”
Dettori’s family have been on course all week and daughter Mia was in the winner’s enclosure. She said: “It is amazing having a dad like him, especially when you are at the races. It is like you get the whole excitement which you wouldn’t otherwise get.
“It’s great to be here for his last year here. The whole family are coming at some point. It would be great if he finished on top at Royal Ascot as the top jockey – that would be the dream.”
While Dettori was racking up another Ascot landmark, O’Brien was delighted to get off the mark with a filly who changed hands after her debut win.
He said: “It means a lot [to train a first Royal Ascot winner].
“She is a very smart filly, and big congratulations to all the owners, they spotted her potential early and bought into her and the plan was to come here and it is great that it has come off.
“She traveled really well, she is a very good filly, she quickened smartly but she kept going to the line well. She is just a very smart filly.
“We’ll take her home and see how she comes out of it. She is quite a scopey filly – she is owned by a bunch of American owners so the Breeders’ Cup will be a target, whether she will stay that far or not we will see.”
