England: Vandeek, Porta Fortuna turn heads at Newmarket

Vandeek ran his record to four wins from four starts and was the most visually impressive 2-year-old stakes winner Saturday at Newmarket Racecourse in England, but the filly Porta Fortuna clocked a faster six-furlong time than Vandeek, and for the purposes of American racing holds more interest this fall.

Vandeek, described by jockey James Doyle as purely a sprinter, burst between rivals with a furlong-and-a-half remaining and went on to a 2 1/4-length victory in the Group 1 Middle Park.

Coming off a victory in the Group 1 Prix Morny, Vandeek showed he can race just as effectively on firmer going as he has over soft, but while Vandeek is a tall, leggy colt, no one seems to be expecting him to go even as far as one mile. Simon Crisford, who co-trains Vandeek with his son, Ed, didn’t rule out a start in the seven-furlong, Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, but plans aren’t set for the colt, who is by Havana Grey out of Mosa Mine, by Exceed and Excel.

Vandeek, who threw his head and raced keenly in the early stages, was timed in 1:10.76 for six furlongs over good-to-firm turf. Task Force, who could be put away to await the 2000 Guineas in May, finished second, a head in front of River Tiber. River Tiber is a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup, according to overseas reports.

Porta Fortuna wasn’t as flashy as Vandeek, getting a clean trip from just off the pace in the six-furlong Group 1 Cheveley Park, but she was faster than her male counterpart, clocking 1:10.66 one race before the Middle Park. The time was legitimately superior as the Middle Park unfolded at a slightly quicker tempo than the Cheveley Park and Porta Fortuna got her final quarter-mile in 22.89, compared to Vandeek’s in 23.07.

Oisin Murphy rode Porta Fortuna for trainer Donnacha O’Brien and the filly now sports a 6-4-1-1 record. Winner of the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, Porta Fortuna then lost two races in Ireland over going that her trainer said was slower than she prefers, and Porta Fortuna’s fondness for quick turf is one reason connections are pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Porta Fortuna, by Caravaggio out of the Holy Roman Emperor mare Too Precious, has American owners – Steve Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing, and Dean Reeves. The filly was purchased from owner Annemarie O’Brien this spring.

Pearls and Rubies, a 30-1 shot trained by Aidan O’Brien, finished second, a head in front of Sacred Angel. Favored Jasna’s Secret checked in ninth after bobbling and becoming unbalanced with about a quarter-mile to race. Antepost favorite Relief Rally was scratched Saturday with an upper respiratory infection.

Ghostwriter began the stakes action with a 1 1/4-length win in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over a straight mile. The Royal Lodge is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, but connections offered no hints the colt would travel for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Ghostwriter instead could try the Vertem Futurity Trophy over one mile at Doncaster with longer races next season in mind. On Saturday, under Richard Kingscote, Ghostwriter made a long steady run from mid-pack and looked like a winner a long way from the finish. Clive Cox trains the son of Invincible Spirit, who now is 3 for 3.

Al Musmak finished second, a half-length in front of favored Capulet, who lost position going downhill into the portion of the Newmarket course known as “The Dip” before finding good stride again in the uphill finish. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Capulet could be a candidate for the BC Juvenile Turf.

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