Donnacha O'Brien

Donnacha O'Brien has a lot to look forward to as he launches into his fifth year of training since retiring as a champion jockey in Ireland. The 25-year-old, who operates under the nom-de-course Bawnmore Racing, is off to a fast start already this spring as he had his first 2-year-old winner of the year at Dundalk on April 13 with Usdi Atohi (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) and just this past weekend at the Curragh, his 4-year-old trainee Yosemite Valley (GB) (Shamardal) claimed the listed Lester Piggott Gladness S. But there...

The G3 Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' 1,000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown on Sunday, April 7, has been identified as a likely starting point for Porta Fortuna (Ire) as she prepares to embark on her three-year-old campaign. Trained by Donnacha O'Brien, Porta Fortuna proved herself a high-class juvenile in 2023 when her high-profile victories included the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot and G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket. She was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. All roads...

ARCADIA, USA--Bar those who have raced recently in the US, the European horses arrived at Santa Anita on Sunday evening, with their trainers mostly following on over the next few days. One early bird at the track on Sunday morning was Donnacha O'Brien, who is entitled to want to soak up as much of the atmosphere as he can this week as he has brought a Group 1-winning juvenile to be his first runner at the Breeders' Cup. Only Bob Baffert has accrued more prize-money earnings than Donnacha's father Aidan...

While Newmarket's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. was stripped of an important runner in the certain favourite Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose dirty scope ruled her out of action on the eve of the race, there can be few complaints that Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was not ultimately a worthy winner as she again delivered her potent blend of professionalism and class on Saturday. Surprisingly as big as 9-2 as the joint-second favourite given her exemplary record so far, the Donnacha O'Brien...

Medallion Racing's Phillip Shelton has explained how the sweet taste of Royal Ascot success with Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) has made the ownership group hungrier than ever, which has lead to the racing manager for the American-based outfit make his first trip to the Goffs Orby Sale this week.  The plan, according to Shelton, is to purchase three or four yearlings to support Donnacha O'Brien, the mastermind behind that brilliant G3 Albany S. success back in June.  Medallion Racing has already been on the scoresheet at the Goffs UK Sale...

Providing her first-crop sire Ten Sovereigns (Ire) with his breakthrough first black-type winner on Sunday, Anne Marie O'Brien's filly Asean (Ire) was too strong for her peers in the five-furlong Listed Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Irish EBF Curragh S. Off the mark at the fifth attempt at Cork last month, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained 17-2 shot was anchored in rear early. Asked to sprint by Gavin Ryan a furlong out, the homebred swamped the field to gain the advantage 50 yards out before asserting to beat Alabama (Ire) (No Nay...

Donnacha O'Brien says that he is under no illusions about the task facing Mysteries (Ire) (No Nay Never) in Thursday's Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown where she will come up against the ante-post 1,000 Guineas favourite Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}).  Trained by his father Aidan O'Brien, Ylang Ylang made a big impression on debut at the Curragh last month and sky-rocketed to the head of the betting for next year's Classics as a result.  While Donnacha views his Curragh maiden winner Mysteries in good regard, he says Ylang Ylang...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Insights feature a full-brother to high-class racehorse Never Ending Story (Ire), going two furlongs farther than that sibling did on debut last term. 17.20 Killarney, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, 8f 20yT NAVY SEAL (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is introduced by Aidan O'Brien over the longest trip for a maiden in...

Royal Ascot heroine Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) is likely to take her chance in the G1 Phoenix S. at the Curragh in August, trainer Donnacha O'Brien revealed on Tuesday. The undefeated G3 Albany S. heroine, who races for Steve Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing 2020 and Reeves Racing, broke her maiden at the Curragh in April, before taking the G3 Fillies Sprint S. at Naas in May. She was a length ahead of Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) at the royal meeting. O'Brien said, "She's very good and has come...

Ever since Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio)'s win in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. at Naas last month, bloodstock agent Mark McStay had been pestering Taylor Made's Mark Taylor to make his plans to come to Royal Ascot. But the Taylor family is more known for probity and hard work than they are flights of fancy, and Taylor demurred, citing preparations for upcoming sales in America. But when Porta Fortuna launched a determined bid and got up for the win in Friday's G3 Albany S. at Ascot...

Frankie got going early on Friday as he steered Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing 2020 LLC and Reeves Racing's Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) to success in the G3 Albany S. for a landmark 80th Royal Ascot winner. Sent off at 5-1 having garnered Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. last month, the Donnacha O'Brien trainee travelled smoothly over two lengths behind the speed up the centre. Arriving to reel in Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) passing the furlong pole,...

When Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio {Ire}) won the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. at Naas on Sunday, there was a collective cheer from her new partners across the pond. Medallion Racing, a racing partnership put together by Taylor Made Farm, bought the two-year-old filly after her five-furlong win at the Curragh in April with partners Barry Fowler, Steve Weston and Dean Reeves. She took the Sunday stakes at Naas in just her second start, her first for the new partners, and now will head to Royal Ascot....