Frankie Dettori had already enjoyed victories this week with Gregory and Courage Mon Ami in the Gold Cup; the success of Porta Fortuna provided Donnacha O'Brien with a first win at the Royal meeting; watch every race live on Sky Sports Racing
Friday 23 June 2023 15:17, UK
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.
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 vigour 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 all 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 is 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 travelled 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."
Dettori brought up a day four double when steering the John and Thady Gosden-trained Coppice to Sandringham Stakes glory - a first winner of the week for leading owners Juddmonte.
The daughter of Kingman was sent off the 6-1 joint-favourite and was following in the footsteps of her brother Calyx who stormed to Coventry Stakes success for connections in 2018.
Dettori, won won the Albany Stakes earlier in the day, told ITV: "That was a good effort, the Juddmonte team are here so to get a good winner for them is nice, they've been great supporters of mine. They're on the board so I'm very pleased.
"We thought she was a Guineas filly but she didn't come to hand soon enough. We put her in this race as we thought she'd be very competitive and she was.
"This week has been unbelievable, I love Ascot so I'm enjoying the moment."
