O'Brien wins Royal Ascot big race - but it's Donnacha not Aidan

By James Toney at Royal Ascot

It's got to be O'Brien's in the big race, mused the lad on the 10.06 from London Waterloo.

He will take little solace from being half right, such are the fine margins in this sport between tears and cheers.

Aidan O'Brien is still on course for his 13th top trainer title at Royal Ascot, after Ryan Moore took Fairy Godmother to victory via the scenic route in the Albany Stakes.

But it was son Donnacha who delivered in the Group One showpiece Coronation Stakes.

His Dad is 90 wins and counting here in this verdant corner of Berkshire, increasingly twinned with Tipperary.

However, this was just win number two for Donnacha - and arguably the best of his fledgling training career - as Porta Fortuna followed up last year's victory in the Albany Stakes by stepping up in class, under jockey Tom Marquand.

"All along, she hasn’t got the credit she deserves," said O'Brien, now a six-time Group One winning trainer, aged just 25.

"Tom gave her a lovely ride, I was happy the whole way and everything went to plan. It’s not too often you can say that so I’m delighted.

"She has never missed a beat. She had two runs before Royal Ascot last year and has literally never missed a race since. She’s incredibly sound and incredibly tough. It is a testament to all the team at home.

"I think a mile is probably her maximum because she’s got so much speed. On a turning track like this, Tom was able to sit on her and use that turn of foot that she has."

Aidan and brother Joseph were first to congratulate Donnacha in the parade ring, their approach has always been tight-knit family first and racing a close second.

His five wins put him well clear of rivals as he seeks to secure a 13th top Royal Ascot trainer title on Saturday, so perhaps he could let this one slip, while also confidently plotting Opera Singer's future engagements after a solid run.

“I'm so delighted for Donnacha," he said. "He has done an incredible job with the filly. We are delighted with Opera Singer too – she ran a great race and Ryan was over the moon with her.

"She would be very happy to go up in trip as well, she’ll love going a mile and a quarter. I remember when Ryan got off her in Longchamp last year, he said, ‘this is your Arc filly for this year’. When she moves up in trip, she’s going to be really lovely."

Marquand, who took his career tally to six at Royal Ascot with the win, paid tribute to the trainer, who is one year his junior, and Porta Fortuna, beaten by a neck in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket but bouncing back in style.

“I think she is a bit underrated; it’s an amazing training performance from Donnacha to bring a filly to back-to-back Royal Ascots and get her head in front both times so spectacularly," he said.

"She’s a remarkable filly and her brain is so good and she is so tactical, and has the ability to improve in what she does as well.

"These rides are hard enough to come by, let alone to keep them, and I’m very fortunate to be on board her today. Donnacha and the team’s family are woven into racing history but they are a young team, in reality, so to be on one for them is fantastic."