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Champion filly Porta Fortuna still has “plenty of racing left in her” according to trainer Donnacha O'Brien, who admitted that he will be experiencing “mixed emotions” when his stable star goes through the ring at the forthcoming December Mares Sale at Tattersalls. The daughter of Caravaggio made it to the racecourse only once in 2025, when registering her eighth career win in May's G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh, but she has been given a clean bill of health by O'Brien ahead of her appearance during the second of the two Sceptre Sessions on Tuesday, December 2. “She's always been a very, very sound filly throughout her career, other than the little tweak that we got before Ascot [after her win at the Curragh],” said the trainer. “She put on a good bit of weight when we gave her the break and we decided that we probably weren't going to get her to the [G1] Matron [Stakes] in time. When that happened, the owners took the decision just to keep her in light work until the sales and keep her happy and healthy, so that's what we're doing.” He added, “She's in a great place now. She's a filly that potentially has plenty of racing left in her if that's what her new owners want. She's a special filly. She's achieved a lot already and possibly can achieve much more in the future.” Certainly, whether she races again or not, Porta Fortuna has already put together a CV which identifies her as one of the most decorated fillies to have raced in Europe in recent years. A four-time winner as a juvenile, including the G3 Albany Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes, she returned the following the season with a runner-up finish in the G1 1,000 Guineas, before winning at Royal Ascot for the second year in a row when beating five individual Group 1 winners in the G1 Coronation Stakes.     “My highlight of her racing career so far would probably be the Coronation in Ascot as a three-year-old,” O'Brien said of that memorable success. “It was probably the highest-quality race she ran in. She impressively beat the Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old filly in Opera Singer and obviously to do it on the biggest stage in Royal Ascot is very special.” Porta Fortuna herself was crowned the Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly at the end of 2024, having followed her Coronation victory with two further top-level triumphs in the Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes. The horse of a lifetime for a partnership consisting of Taylor Made's Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Dean Reeves and Barry Fowler, Porta Fortuna was bought privately after making a successful debut at the Curragh in the colours of her owner-breeder, the O'Brien family's Whisperview Trading Ltd. She is the first foal out of Holy Roman Emperor's Too Precious, who is a full-sister to the triple Australian Group 2 winner and G1 Australian Cup runner-up Numerian, as well as the G3 Prix Francois Boutin third Montesilvano. This is also the family of the G1 St Leger-winning sire Milan and the Derby and Irish Derby hero and prolific sire Kahyasi. O'Brien continued, “She was one of my picks of our homebreds when she was a yearling. Then, when she came in, she was very professional and did everything very nicely from day one. She was always a very precocious two-year-old. “She's a very good-looking filly. She's not massively tall, but she's very scopey. She has great length and she's a great mover. She has a very strong backside on her, strong neck, shoulder and back – she's an impressive specimen. “She's built probably like a fast filly, but she stretches out to a mile easily and probably would get a little bit further if we ever tried it. She looks quite like her sire Caravaggio in that sense.” Characterising his stable flagbearer for the past three seasons, O'Brien added, “There's no badness in her. She's just a very hardy filly. She loves her work and loves everything she does. “I'm really looking forward to the Tattersalls Sales and seeing her selling. Obviously, it'll be mixed emotions but, at the same time, it'll be exciting to see who's there and trying to buy her. Hopefully, it'll be a night to celebrate her, her career and everything she's achieved. It'll be exciting to find out what the next chapter holds for her.” The post Sceptre Sessions Headliner Porta Fortuna “In A Great Place” And Could Race On appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If i was on a salary such as those referred to, above, I'm sure I could find some ideas. And, as pointed out in another thread, if funds hadn't been wasted on stakes for the last two decades instead of attending to track maintenance,  we may not be quite so badly off.

Turquoise Bloodstock paid €65,000 for La Renegada (Lope De Vega) to top the second and final day of the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale on Saturday. The four-year-old daughter of multiple listed winner Against Rules (Aussie Rules), herself third in the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit, is in foal to Group 1 sire Make Believe. Sold as lot 1353 by Ballylinch Stud, she is kin to Nice To See You (Siyouni), a multiple stakes winner in France and second in the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc. Fourth dam Mill Princess (Mill Princess) is responsible for star Antipodean sire Last Tycoon, who won a trio of top-flight races in the Northern Hemisphere before his sire success Down Under. Qasida (Nathaniel) (lot 1366) caught the eye of Midfork Bloodstock to the tune of €60,000. A winner in France, the five-year-old is carrying to Farhh and was consigned by Ballynure Park Stud. Her granddam claimed the Listed Grand Prix du Nord, and left stakes winners Hooking (Lope De Vega) and Le Destrier (Le Havre), with the former also second in the G3 La Coupe. Under the third dam is G1 Prix du Cadran winner Mille Et Mille (Muhtathir). Triple winner Scorchio (Kuroshio), a half-sister to G3 World Trophy Stakes hero Thunderbear (Kodi Bear), brought €46,000 from Maria Robertz. Part of the Ballybin Stud draft, lot 1309 is pregnant to Kodi Bear. The four-year-old counts Grade III winner Rosinka (Soviet Star), who placed in both the GI Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes and GI Spinster Stakes, as her second dam. She was sold to Barry Lynch for €24,000 out of the Goffs Autumn HIT Sale last year. At the close of trade on Saturday, 70 lots had sold from 94 offered (74%) for a gross of €685,200 (+54%). The average was €9,789 (+25%) and the median was €7,000 (+40%). Two lots made north of €50,000 compared to none on the same day in 2024. Overall, the two-day sale grossed €12,117,700 (+7%) for 265 sold from 322 offered (82%). The average fell 10% to €45,728 and the median rested at €20,000 (-9%). There were 10 lots that sold for €200,000 or more this term (12 last year). Additionally, 32 lots reached the six-figure mare compared to 28 in 2024. Beeby Reflects After Strong Five Days “Exceeding expectations,” said Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby of the five-day stand. “A key Goffs mantra and one we are pleased to have delivered on countless occasions over the last six days. So many vendors and consignors of both foals and mares gave positive feedback on the sale which delights the dedicated Goffs team as we exist to serve those that place their trust in our service. “In my comments at the conclusion of the foal sale I highlighted the frenzied demand from start to finish and would only add that such vibrancy was largely driven by the swathes of pinhookers who flock to Goffs November every year whether the yearling season has been good, bad or indifferent. They are an amazing group of hard working, committed men and women who are the epitome of accentuating the positives in everything and we are in their debt. It is our hope that they will choose Goffs when they come to reoffer as the Orby and Premier sales provide a vibrant and strong marketplace at all levels whilst the Goffs Customer Loyalty Scheme provides a distinctive and significant USP to vendors. “Our Breeding Stock Sale also delivered positive returns for large numbers although at a lower level today. Yesterday's top lot is a clear case in point of exceeding expectations as she realised double several pre-sale valuations, and she was far from alone in that achievement. “Once again Kildare Paddocks played host to a truly international group of buyers with the leader board reflecting the global appeal of the Irish thoroughbred at Goffs following the efforts of the Goffs Purchaser Attraction team and our friends at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.  Year after year this sale is the gateway to the world for Irish breeders and we are grateful for their ongoing support as, in common with every category at every sale, we recognise we are nothing without the horses. That said, I admit that we will be frustrated to see some high-profile Irish horses selling elsewhere in the coming weeks when we know, without any doubt, we would achieve the best price for them as we have done on so many occasions. It is, of course, for us to make the case and I can only state that we will not rest in our endeavours as we have supreme confidence that Goffs November is the measure of any sale in the world for both foals and breeding stock, and our track record proves it. “Finally, our thanks to all who have contributed to another superb week at Goffs. Vendors, purchasers, grooms, suppliers, and the wonderful Goffs team of which I am proud to be a part.” The post La Renegada Leads The Way On Saturday, As Goffs November “Exceeds Expectations” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What he said.

5th-AQU, $85k, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 2:10p.m. ET After heavy winds cancelled the card he was originally going to debut on last week, OTTINHO (Quality Road) looks to make it second-try lucky for his unveiling here. Most notably out of Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), who is famous for her son, Hall of Famer Gun Runner (by Candy Ride {Arg}), the bay is a Three Chimneys homebred who goes postward for the barn of trainer Chad Brown. Drawn in the middle of the field, he enters this race with a healthy worktab and plenty of foundation. Flavien Prat gets the call on the 5-2 morning line shot. Ottinho hails from the same female family as GISW Funtastic (More Than Ready) and MGSW Lull (War Front). Drawn to the far inside on the rail is his stablemate, Up Yonder (Curlin). A $500,000 KEESEP full-brother to GSP Urban, the son of Curlin is out of SP Moonlight Sky (Sky Mesa), herself a half-sister to champion 3-year-old filly MGISW Abel Tasman (Quality Road). There are several noteworthy names beneath the third dam, such as the likes of MGSW & GISP Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro); SW Snow Face Princess (Midshipman); GSW Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro); and 12 other black-type earners with five at the graded level. St Elias homebred Enforced Agenda (Liam's Map) goes out for conditioner George Weaver. The colt is the first foal for Heart of Hope (Tapit), whose half-sister is MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini), the dam of MGISW Clairiere (Curlin). Chad Summers signed the ticket for $550,000 at the Keeneland September sale for Baltimore (Quality Road). Owned by Al Gold and trained by Summers, the colt is out of Canadian MSW Win The War (War Front), who Hinkle Farms acquired for $750,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale in 2020. This mare is a half-sister to GSW Dixie City (Dixie Union) and the dam of current sire Unified (by Candy Ride {Arg}).   TJCIS PPs 10th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 5:24p.m. ET Drawn to the farther side of the field, Wall Street (Into Mischief) heads out of the shedrow of trainer Brad Cox for this unveiling. A full-brother to MGISW Patch Adams (Into Mischief), the pair is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to GISW American Patriot (War Front) and GSW Parchment Party (Constitution), who was recently seen contesting the G1 Melbourne Cup in Australia. Beneath the third dam is multiple Group/Grade I winner Well Armed (Tiznow) as well as a half-sister to that one who would ultimately created the branch of the family that yielded MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner). That female family is also responsible for the likes of GISW Played Hard (Into Mischief) and MGSW Mr. Money (Goldencents). To his inside is Three Chimneys homebred Exhibition (Munnings), who is out of a half-sister to GISW Twirling Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}). The Steve Asmussen-trainee fired a bullet two works back and has been a familiar face on the worktab since arriving in Kentucky from New York. His immediate neighbor in the gate is $560,000 KEESEP grad Mob (Gun Runner), whose dam is a full-sister to GISW Callback (Street Sense)–herself mother to GSP Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro). The third dam's claim to fame is GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria's Mon) and graded stakes winners Cyrus Alexander (Medaglia d'Oro) and Brethren (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPs 8th-DMR, $60k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 7:02p.m. ET A fleet of well-related and well-connected fillies will be unveiled here, led by $550,000 FTSAUG buy Nimah (Gun Runner) for trainer Bob Baffert. The half-sister to SP My Indy (English Channel) posted a bullet work of 40 Nov. 13 at Santa Anita and comes in with a strong tab under her belt. To her outside are Mesmerize (Maclean's Music) and Lerios (Into Mischief). The former is a half-sister to MGSW Soothsay (Distorted Humor) and hails from the extended female family of Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy). The latter is the first to the races for GISW Paris Lights (Curlin) for owner/breeder Spendthrift Farm and she also hails from the extended family of MGSW & GISP First Captain (Curlin).   TJCIS PPs The post Nov. 23 Insights: Half to Gun Runner Unveiled in New York, Full to Patch Adams Debuts at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars MY WISH - R7 (7) A class act who should prove far too good for this lot   Jay Rooney SUNNY Q - R2 (9) Just fell short of making it back-to-back wins last start, can go one better   Owen Goulding BLAZING WUKONG - R10 (14) Two big runs off massive weights this season and carries 18lb less here   Phillip Woo NOISY BOY - R4 (3) Gets right trip to salute after two encouraging runs over a mile trip   Shannon (Vincent Wong) MADE FOR LIFE - R1 (11) Trials have suggested he looks hard to beat...View the full article

Did you have a share in the two Des's jackpot?  I also remember amongst others on the organising panel were Wendy Cooper and Lisa O'Sullivan.  I don't know if it was ever repeated but, it should have been.

With a successful defence of his title in Saturday’s A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange, Kiwi-bred marvel Gringotts has now won five races worth $1 million or more within the space of barely a year. The Per Incanto gelding’s back-to-back victories in The Gong sit alongside his dual triumphs in the A$3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick, plus the most prestigious victory of his career in the A$1 million Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last March. The Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts has now had 25 starts for 12 wins, nine placings and more than A$6.1 million in prize-money. Saturday’s second win in The Gong came courtesy of a daring ride from Nash Rawiller and a lion-hearted performance from Gringotts under 61kg. Persistent rain throughout the afternoon sent the Kembla Grange track down to a Heavy8, and the majority of the field in The Gong came wide around the home turn in search of better ground. But Rawiller saved ground and stayed closer to the inside, and Gringotts suddenly moved from midfield to be right in the firing line early in the run home. Most of the action was down the outside of the straight, headed by second favourite Estadio Mestalla under 56kg, but Gringotts refused to be denied. He kept finding, kept lifting, and clawed his way in front to win by just under half a length. “You’ve got to back your judgement,” Rawiller said. “But when they all went to the outside so quick, I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’ve done the wrong thing here.’ “But I was still confident that if I stayed patient, went through my gears and kept the horse building under me, that there’d be something there at the 100m. There really had to be. “He’s a warrior. He’s such a good horse. I really loved that win. It was very thrilling.” Gringotts was bred by Totara Park Stud and is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto out of the Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell. Herself unraced, Miss Bluebell is a daughter of Operavega, whose half-sister Vegas Showgirl was the dam of the legendary Winx. Miss Bluebell is the dam of two stakes performers from three foals to race. The other is Millefiori, who has won seven races for Te Akau Racing and placed in the Listed Great Easter Stakes, while the other full-sibling to Gringotts, Dan Vegas, was sold to Hong Kong. Gringotts was offered by Archer Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Kasa Bloodstock bought him for $100,000. He was re-offered at the Ready to Run Sale later that year, but failed to meet his $450,000 reserve. He was subsequently sold privately after winning a trial at Waipa for Simon and Katrina Alexander. View the full article

A bold move before the home turn carried Kiwi-bred gelding Regal Lion to victory in Saturday’s A$130,000 John Duff & Co The Lester (2025m) at Cranbourne. Previously a Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) winner and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) placegetter, Regal Lion headed into Saturday’s Benchmark 84 handicap after running sixth at Moonee Valley on October 3 and at Caulfield on October 15, winning the Mortlake Cup (2000m) on November 1 and finishing fourth in last Sunday’s Moe Cup (2050m). The seven-year-old was a $17 longshot for Saturday’s race, but upstaged his higher-rated rivals under a well-judged ride from Jamie Mott. Regal Lion initially settled in third-last, but began to stride forward from the 800m mark. He pounced before the home turn, taking a clear lead as he came into the straight. Despite beginning to tire in the closing stages, Regal Lion fought hard all the way down the straight and held on to win by half a length. “I was hoping to be a bit closer in the run, but I would have had to use him to do so,” Mott said. “The tempo was genuine and I was hoping midway that they would slacken more and make it easier for me to do it, but they didn’t really slacken that much. I waited until just before the bottom corner to get moving. “This horse was in good order for today and the team has done a great job with him. When I asked for an effort, he really responded well and for a good 700m too. It was a good effort. “He was very genuine. He kept kicking, and every stride I asked for a bit more and he kept giving and giving. He was out on his feet late, the last few strides, but it was a good solid tempo and I got going quite early. He did a tremendous job.” Local horseman Gavin Bedggood is the third different trainer of Regal Lion, who has now had a total of 46 starts for five wins, six placings and A$599,163 in stakes. “I thought I had been too soft on him in between Mortlake and Moe,” Bedggood said. “I watched him walk around the yard last week and he looked soft. I thought he should have run second and he blew out the last 100m. He’s a good-doing horse, so the back-up didn’t hold too many concerns. Richie, his strapper, rides him every day and had been happy with him all week. He had a little jump this morning, which we do quite often leading into a run. He was quiet coming in, had a good blood on Thursday and all the indicators were there for a good run. “I thought he might have been a pair closer in the running, but I told Jamie to ride him where he was going to travel. He won an Ipswich Cup in a similar fashion and he won a Mortlake Cup recently. He doesn’t have a great change up speed, but if you throw the cat amongst the pigeons and if you get run down late, that’s on me. I would rather you get going 100 yards too early than 100 yards too late and wait for other horses to get going.” Originally trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman for owner-breeders Barbara and Carl McComb, Regal Lion was a maiden winner at Rotorua in November of his three-year-old season. Subsequently partially sold to OTI Racing, he stepped up when third behind Asterix and La Crique in the 2022 New Zealand Derby, while he was also runner-up in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (1850m) before relocating to the Annabel Archibald stable and winning the Ipswich Cup in June of 2023. By ill-fated former Novara Park stallion Jakkalberry, Regal Lion is the first foal out of the Congrats mare Red Delight, who has subsequently produced four foals by Shocking including the three-race winner Liquid Fire. Unplaced on the track, Red Delight is a granddaughter of Group One winner Danglissa and closely related to big-race performers Unite And Conquer, Profiteer and Sweet Redemption View the full article