By Sean Cronin
The King and Queen's hitherto unraced Portcullis (Frankel) was weak in the betting market prior to Thursday's Betway Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes at Newmarket and made a mockery of his 7-1 odds by delivering a stunning performance to earn TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, status in the storied one-mile contest.
“He was a little lost leaving the gate, but he picked up and travelled well,” said John Gosden. “Ryan [Moore] said he found a nice rhythm and he left him alone. It's obviously pleasing to win like that and you don't know what the second and third are as they are all unraced horses, but it was a pleasing start and Ryan was very happy with him. What we do now is try to keep the feet on the ground and probably look for a novice to learn. Maybe we should just take a small step before we take a big step.”
Asleep and stationary as the gates opened, the John and Thady Gosden trainee recovered quickly and was soon among the pack in eighth. Cruising forward on the bridle from halfway to lead passing the quarter-mile marker, he was beyond recall exiting The Dip and thundered clear up the rising ground to easily outclass Dark Whisper (Dark Angel) by a hugely impressive 5 1/2 lengths.
Portcullis is the second foal and scorer produced by G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Castle Lady (Shamardal), herself out of an unraced full-sister to dual Group/Grade 1-winning sire Raven's Pass (Elusive Quality).
The homebred bay is full to a yearling filly and a half-brother to the unraced 2-year-old colt Lancaster Tower (Kingman).
👑 A nice one in the Royal silks
Portcullis hoses up in the Wood Ditton pic.twitter.com/oDEB0CJ8DK
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 16, 2026
2nd-Newmarket, £20,000, Mdn, 4-16, unraced 3yo, 8fT, 1:38.79, gd.
PORTCULLIS (GB), c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Castle Lady (Ire) (G1SW-Fr & GISP-US), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Windsor County, by Elusive Quality
3rd Dam: Ascutney, by Lord At War (Arg)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $13,979. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-HM The King & HM The Queen; B-King Charles III; T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Ryan Moore.
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