Tag Archive for: Adrian Murray

Arizona Blaze handed French target after York disappointment

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Adrian Murray has outlined plans for some of his stable stars, with Arizona Blaze set to be freshened up after Nunthorpe disappointment for a crack at the Prix de l’Abbaye, while Group One hero Power Blue is also being saved for a trans-Atlantic mission to the Breeders’ Cup later in the year.

Arizona Blaze was sent off the 9-2 favourite for York’s Group One sprint but struggled to make an impression in finishing 11th, some six lengths adrift of Australian-trained winner Asfoora.

With stablemate Bucanero Fuerte pencilled in to represent Murray and owners Amo Racing in the Curragh’s Flying Five Stakes, Arizona Blue will make the journey to France in early October.

That could pave the way for further travel and another visit to the Breeders’ Cup having gone close in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar last November.

Adrian Murray (right) is eyeing a trip to France with Arizona Blue
Adrian Murray (right) is eyeing a trip to France with Arizona Blue (Brian Lawless/PA)

Murray said: “We were a little bit disappointed with Arizona Blaze, he was slow out the stalls and got on the back foot and just never got into it, he wasn’t able to travel in his comfort zone.

“He’s come out of the race great though and we’re looking at going to Longchamp now for the sprint on Arc weekend. Bucanero Fuerte is going to go for the Flying Five, so we’ll freshen Arizona Blaze up and hopefully look at France.

“The ground could have been a little quick for him at York as well, so if there’s a bit of dig in the ground in France it could be to his advantage.

“He will probably go for the Breeders’ Cup as well towards the back end.”

Also with a trip to California on his agenda is Phoenix Stakes scorer Power Blue, who will now swerve stepping up in distance for the National Stakes to head Stateside in top form, where his intended target is still to be decided.

“We took him out of the National Stakes and he’s had a tough enough campaign, so we’re just going to freshen him up and look at the Breeders’ Cup for him as well,” continued Murray.

“We haven’t really decided which race yet, but he probably will be going up in trip.”

Murray has also welcomed last year’s Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me to his Rathowen base, with the headline-making 4.8million guineas buy switched from trainer Ralph Beckett by Amo supremo Kia Joorabchian.

You Got To Me heads to post at Epsom
You Got To Me heads to post at Epsom (John Walton/PA)

Seen just the once this season when disappointing at Epsom in the Coronation Cup, there are no immediate plans, but her new handler is hoping the change of scenery inspires a revival.

“It’s great to have her and she’s on a little bit of a break to freshen her up,” said Murray.

“She has an entry in the Arc, but we would have to wait and see and she will tell us where we are at with her.

“At the moment she’s enjoying her break and we’ll just be hoping that the change of scenery will bring her back to something like her best.”

Power Blue on National mission for Adrian Murray

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Adrian Murray is relishing stepping up to seven furlongs with his Phoenix Stakes hero Power Blue in next month’s Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

The son of Space Blues followed in the footsteps of Murray’s other Group One scorer Bucanero Fuerte when downing Aidan O’Brien’s True Love at the Curragh, proving his top-class potential after a string of fine runs in defeat since winning the opening race of the Irish turf season in March.

His handler has been delighted with his progress and even has half an eye on next year’s Classics as he looks forward to an appearance on day two of the Irish Champions Festival.

“I’m looking forward to the National Stakes with Power Blue and stepping up a furlong might even suit him better,” said Murray, who confirmed the aforementioned Bucanero Fuerte will run on the same card in the Flying Five Stakes after his win in the Group Three Phoenix Sprint.

“You would have to be looking at him being a possible Guineas horse and he would be entitled to be entered for those races.

“It will all depend on how he progresses from two to three but he’s done nothing but improve and he’s always been competitive, even when he has been beaten. Win or lose, he always shows up on the day and he ran a blinder the other day.

“His form is top-drawer stuff and he’s proving he’s a top-drawer horse.”

Arizona Blaze ready to light up York for Murray team

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After a weekend to remember, Adrian Murray is relishing another bid for Group One glory at York next week, when Arizona Blaze goes for gold in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe.

While stablemate Power Blue caused a major shock against the long odds-on True Love in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes on Saturday and Bucanero Fuerte ran out a Group Three winner on the same Curragh card, Arizona Blaze is vying for favouritism in the five-furlong feature on the Friday of the four-day Ebor Festival.

Second at the Breeders’ Cup, he has been running to a remarkably consistent level this season in a division that continues to surprise, finishing second in the Commonwealth Cup to Time For Sandals and then winning the Sapphire Stakes by a clear-cut two lengths.

Trainer Adrian Murray is in a rich vein of form
Trainer Adrian Murray is in a rich vein of form (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s among the favourites and that is because he always turns up on the day – hopefully he will do again in the Nunthorpe,” said Murray.

“He’s a very exciting horse, he never runs a bad race and the sprint division is wide open this year. There’s no standout horse this season, all the big sprints are being won by different horses. Ours is one of the favourites, but it’s wide open.

“I was talking to Roger O’Callaghan (owner of star two-year-old Lady Iman) the other day and they are going to York because of that, it could be a big field. It’s exciting times ahead, for sure.”

Reflecting on a big-race double for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing he described as “unbelievable”, Murray said: “We expected a run from Bucanero, well we expected a big run from both of them, but we were taking on Aidan O’Brien in the Group One.

Power Blue and jockey David Egan with owner Kia Joorabchian at the Curragh in the winner’s enclosure
Power Blue and jockey David Egan with owner Kia Joorabchian at the Curragh in the winner’s enclosure (Damien Eagers/PA)

“I was always told never be afraid to run, they don’t win anything stood in their stable.

“Power Blue ran very quick sectionals all the way and that is what won him it, he has a high cruising speed but isn’t a horse who finds a whole lot off that speed. He can maintain a very high cruising speed.

“He’ll probably go for the National Stakes now on Champions Weekend, that will be his next target I think. He’s in at York in the sales race, but he’s a Group One winner now.

“Bucanero was just very comfortable the whole way through the race and the further they went, the more it looked like he was going to win.

“He was never out of his comfort zone and is a very good horse.”

Bucanero Fuerte in winning action
Bucanero Fuerte in winning action (Damien Eagers/PA)

Murray went on to praise his assistant Robson Aguiar and his role in the victories.

“We’re very lucky to have these horses and it’s all down to Robson, he’s sourced them and didn’t really spend fortunes on them. He’s a brilliant man at picking these horses,” said Murray.

“None of the good ones were that expensive in the grand scheme of things, but I think we got a little bit lucky with Bucanero as he’s by Wootton Bassett and we got him just before he really took off.”

Power Blue downs True Love in Phoenix shock

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True Love suffered a shock defeat as Power Blue turned around previous form to win the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

The Adrian Murray-trained Power Blue was beaten five and three-quarter lengths by Aidan O’Brien’s True Love in the Railway Stakes last time out and as a result she was sent off a 1-4 favourite in the absence of stablemate Gstaad, who was a non runner.

Power Blue was one of two runners for Amo Racing along with Do Bronxs and the pair were prominent from the off, with Ryan Moore sitting on their heels aboard True Love.

Do Bronxs dropped away quickly when the race began in earnest and it looked as though True Love was coming to win with a furlong to run but 10-1 shot Power Blue was incredibly game for jockey David Egan, digging deep to repel her challenge by a length and a half.

It was a further length and three-quarters back to Green Sense in third.

Power Blue reversed previous form with True Love
Power Blue reversed previous form with True Love (Damien Eagers/PA)

Egan said: “He wears his heart on his sleeve. We went hard all the way with that tailwind. I’m sure we went fast fractions, and we really ran them into the ground. It was a really tough performance.

“I was glad when I jumped out of the gates and the fancied one (True Love) was on my left. I always kept an eye on her. I could have stayed straight, but I just angled over so he would have something to fight against because he loves a battle. That was key.”

The winning connections were completing a quickfire double after Bucanero Fuerte landed the Group Three Phoenix Sprint Stakes and Egan added: “It’s fantastic, a mega day.

“It’s my first Group One for Amo, which is huge for myself and the team. So much hard work goes into it and Kia puts a lot into the game. He obviously had his critics but to give him a day like this is a proud day.

“I knew the second half of the season was going to be better than the first half for us, and the second year better than the first, and the third year better than the second. It’s all about giving it time.”

Murray said: “I’ve never had a better day in racing. The two horses looked amazing today.

“I said to Robson (Aguiar, assistant trainer) coming down here that he’s got bigger and stronger and is improving all year. He was entitled to take his chance and has never run a bad race.

“He had a brilliant run in Ascot and is improving all year.

“A furlong out I was starting to think the filly wasn’t getting to him. She was starting to come under pressure, and he was still in his comfort zone.”

Bucanero Fuerte fends them all off at the Curragh

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Bucanero Fuerte secured a game front-running success in the Group Three FBD Hotels And Resorts Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh.

The four-year-old won the Group One Phoenix Stakes at this fixture in 2023 and after a mixed run of luck last year, he was retired to stand at stud.

However, Bucanero Fuerte’s stallion career was unsuccessful and he returned to the care of Adrian Murray, winning at Naas in May before a setback derailed subsequent plans at Royal Ascot.

Back in top form for this contest, David Egan took the initiative early on and while Art Power tried to match him, Bucanero Fuerte (11-2) looked to have his measure with a furlong to run.

My Mate Alfie and Kind Of Blue both made their bids for glory in the final of six furlongs, but Bucanero Fuerte was just too strong, going on to win by a length and quarter.

Owner Kia Joorabchian, who runs his horses under the Amo Racing banner, said: “A lot of credit to Adrian (Murray) and Robson (Aguiar) for the training performance there and David gave him an unbelievable ride – just the way he likes to be ridden.

“He’s a tough horse who has given us a lot of joy and a lot of tough days as well with health scares. He had a colic issue at Ascot (this year).

“I’m glad to see him back happy on the track. We’re definitely not taking him out of Ireland now for a while!

“He could be aimed at the Flying Five as he loves the Curragh.”

Looking forward to the second half of the season, Joorabchian added: “We have much deeper pedigrees and I’m expecting a better second half and we’ll be in a very good place to lead into next year.”

Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh

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Arizona Blaze secured the biggest victory of his career to date in the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.

Adrian Murray’s charge has run a number of excellent races in top-class company, finishing on the podium in the Norfolk Stakes, Railway Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and at the Breeders’ Cup last season, while just last month he finished a neck second to Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Also a dual Group Three winner, the Amo Racing-owned Arizona Blaze was a 9-4 joint-favourite for this Group Two assignment and having been positioned on the front end from the start David Egan, he finished off strongly to deny Ed Walker’s hat-trick-seeking British raider Mgheera by two lengths.

Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian said: “We’ve had a tough time at the Curragh. This guy deserved a big win, to be honest.

“He’s been second in a Breeders’ Cup and second in a Group One at Royal Ascot, this was a well-placed race for him.

“The ground was going a little bit softer than he’d like it because he likes really quick ground, but he just handled it very well.

“He’s never run a bad race really. Adrian and Robson (Aguiar) have done an amazing job with him in the past two years.

“I probably have to thank Aidan (O’Brien) for not running a horse in this race!”

Arizona Blaze (left) was a clear-cut winner
Arizona Blaze (left) was a clear-cut winner (Niall Carson/PA)

He added: “The entire team at Amo, whether it’s in the UK or here, needed this little boost. We’ve had a little bit of a tough start to the season, but it’s been good.

“You’re in sport and I’ve been in sport all my life. Unfortunately in football it happens as well. You’re going up for a big Champions League game and you get a hamstring, a knock or something goes wrong. You have to cope with those kind of moments and suck it in.

“This year we’ve had a very big investment in Freemason Lodge and a very big investment across the globe. That investment has to still show itself.

“We’ve had so many injuries this year – one after the other. We had a massive setback just recently with Ghostwriter, who unfortunately had an injury.”

Coral cut Arizona Blaze to 8-1 from 12-1 for the Nunthorpe at York, with Paddy Power 10-1 from 20-1 about the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Joorabchian said: “We haven’t made any plans, this is a good moment for us.

“Everyone always said every time I came to the Curragh we always seemed to not get a winner, so I’m happy he’s actually broken my duck.

“I think we’ll aim for the Breeders’ Cup. I think he’ll get a Group One somewhere.”