'Faultless' Porta Fortuna sets the standard in star-studded Group 1 Matron Stakes

It's amazing what Porta Fortuna has achieved given she has only just entered the autumn of her three-year-old career and her remarkable CV could be further bolstered after today's Group 1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes.

In ten starts for trainer Donnacha O'Brien, she has won six times, including three Group 1s and two Royal Ascot successes. She has never been out of the first three and was runner-up in the Phoenix Stakes, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and 1,000 Guineas.

At Ascot, she stepped forward from chasing Elmalka home at Newmarket to land a strong renewal of the Coronation Stakes, reversing the form with Roger Varian's filly and beating subsequent Nassau Stakes winner Opera Singer by a length. The Falmouth was not a particularly strong Group 1, but she bolted up, showing a blistering change of gear late on to charge three and three-quarter lengths clear and she hit the line like a train.

Conditions should be fine for her at Leopardstown as long as the ground doesn't have soft in the description and given her consistency, you can count on her running to a very high level, while there could easily be some more improvement under the bonnet. She is an exceptional filly who is still a touch underrated and any odds of 11-10 or bigger are worth taking.

Karl Burke saddled Laurens to victory in 2018 and his Fallen Angel is two from two in Group 1s when travelling to Ireland having landed the Moyglare Stud Stakes at this meeting last year – when she had Porta Fortuna nearly six lengths behind – and the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May.

Danny Tudhope celebrates after victory on Fallen Angel

Fallen Angel: winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas will run in the silks of new owners Wathnan Racing on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann

She thundered two and a three quarter lengths clear of A Lilac Rolla in the Curragh Classic but she has been off since so she might not be at her sharpest again.

Ylang Ylang is not easy to assess. She landed the Fillies' Mile last season but benefited from being held up off a very strong pace and she again enjoyed a brisk gallop over this trip in the 1,000 Guineas when finishing fifth.

She got injured in the Oaks and made her return in the Desmond Stakes last month when she was beaten three and a half lengths into seventh. While she is guaranteed to come forward for that effort, that run did show that she is inclined to struggle over this trip if the pace in front isn't rapid and there's no reason why this race would develop into a burn up in front given Fallen Angel is the only confirmed front-runner.

Jancis is unbeaten in two starts at the track, overcoming distinct greenness to spring a 40-1 surprise on her debut before showing a potent turn of foot to run out a convincing winner of the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes in July. The form of that race has worked out with the second running well in France on her next start and the third landed a race in Kentucky a week ago.

She is the unknown quantity in the race and she can cope with this step up in grade, although it is slightly surprising to see regular rider Billy Lee on stablemate Vespertilio.

Soprano put it all together in Deauville last time out under a more positive ride but this is a much stiffer test, while Rogue Millennium ran well when third in the Prix Rothschild on ground softer than ideal.

She was an excellent second in this race last year behind the very smart Tahiyra. She has nearly four lengths to make up on Porta Fortuna from Newmarket but she showed improvement on her last run and can run a big race at an each-way price.

'She's been faultless' – Marquand relishing Porta Fortuna reunion

Five different jockeys have partnered Porta Fortuna to victory in her career and Tom Marquand is relishing the prospect of renewing the partnership after he missed out on her Falmouth success last time.

Marquand was on board when she was narrowly denied in the 1,000 Guineas this season and steered her to a decisive success in the Coronation Stakes. Ryan Moore took over at Newmarket due to Marquand being stationed at York.

Marquand said: "She's been faultless, not just this season. She's very good and I'm looking forward to getting back on board. She's an exciting filly, but it's a proper, deep Group 1."

What they say

Karl Burke, trainer of Fallen Angel
She's unbeaten in two Group 1s in Ireland. She landed there this morning in great shape and we expect a good run. Slight ease in the ground will be perfect and we expect the track to suit her style of running.

Willie McCreery, trainer of Jancis and Vespertilio
Jancis has come into her own late as she was very backward early on in the year. She's taken a bit of time to come together but she seems to like Leopardstown anyway. Vespertilio seems in great form and has a similar run style so we're hoping that they go a good pace.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Ylang Ylang
She seems to have come forward an awful lot from her run at the track the last day and we're very happy with how she's progressing. She's running over a mile here again and the plan is to step her back up in trip afterwards.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Rogue Millennium
She ran very well when finishing third at Group 1 level on her last two starts. She comes here in good form and it would be great if she could get into the places again.

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