Australia Filly Shows Heart In Ribblesdale Stakes
Port Fairy (3f Australia – Fabulae, by Fastnet Rock) produced a game performance to provide Aidan O’Brien with a record-equalling fifth win in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Whisperview Trading-bred filly made a successful seasonal return in April and confirmed the promise shown with a narrow defeat in the Listed Cheshire Oaks. Reunited with Ryan Moore on Thursday, she raced in second for much of the way and was ridden a furlong from home. She ran down Lava Stream to assert soon after and kept on well to lead by a neck on the line, with another length and three quarters back to the favourite in third.
“It was a good fight,” confirmed Moore. “Port Fairy has improved a lot this year. She's straightforward, very uncomplicated, and she tried really hard.”
The winning trainer said, “Ryan was brilliant on her – he didn’t panic even when the second went by. It was class. She looks like she'd be a lovely Irish Oaks filly now as she stays well.”
Owned by Coolmore partners and Westerberg, Port Fairy becomes a 22nd individual Group winner by Australia. She is the first runner out of the Fastnet Rock mare Fabulae, herself a half-sister to Group 2 performer Alder (Australia).