Tag Archive for: Bucanero Fuerte

Bucanero Fuerte expected to relish stiffer test at Ascot

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Adrian Murray believes stepping back up to six furlongs could be the key for star three-year-old Bucanero Fuerte in next month’s Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

The Wootton Bassett colt began the campaign with the third Group-class victory of his career in the Lacken Stakes at Naas, where he made all to hold off Jessica Harrington’s Givemethebeatboys by a head.

Following a summer lay-off, he was four and a half lengths behind surprise winner Montassib in sixth in the Sprint Cup at Haydock earlier this month before finishing seventh, four lengths adrift of Bradsell, in the Flying Five at the Curragh eight days later.

Bucanero Fuerte will have a little break as he prepares for the October 19 Group One contest over six furlongs, which will see him step back up to the trip which has brought those three Pattern triumphs, including a demolition of Porta Fortuna at elite level in the Phoenix Stakes last August.

Murray admitted that dropping down to the minimum distance did not work for his charge, who is currently priced at 33-1 with William Hill to take the Ascot crown.

“Six furlongs should suit him. The Flying Five was a bit sharp for him,” the County Westmeath-based handler said. “He was off, he was never really in his comfort zone.

“He’s stepping up to six now and six will probably be the focus. The six will be more his trip, should suit. Champions Day will probably be it for him now.”

Murray also has a promising two-year-old on his hands in the form of Hill Road.

The son of American star Quality Road blitzed the field on debut at Leopardstown in August, winning by five lengths.

It did not quite materialise when jumping up to Group One level on his next appearance, as he came home seventh of eight runners in the National Stakes at the Curragh.

Hill Road was nine lengths behind Scorthy Champ and Murray admitted his juvenile needed to “strengthen” before his next assignment.

“He is grand,” he added. “He did run with credit, just went backwards, so we are going to give him a break and give him a chance to strengthen up a little bit more.

“We want to give him a break because he is a bit weak. He needs more time, to be sure.

“We have nothing really pencilled in for him yet. We will wait and see how he progresses over the next few weeks.”

Murray also confirmed his talented youngster Arizona Blaze will head straight to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 1.



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Bucanero Fuerte likely to head for Sprint Cup at Haydock

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Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup has emerged as the likely target for Bucanero Fuerte, who has not run since May.

Adrian Murray’s three-year-old looked set to take high-rank among the sprinters this year when making a winning reappearance in a Group Three, having landed the Phoenix Stakes as a juvenile last year.

He was ruled out of a run in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot due to travel sickness and did not recover in time for the July Cup, but Murray hopes he is now back firing on all cylinders.

“Bucanero Fuerte will probably go to Haydock for the Sprint Cup, at the minute that is the plan,” he said.

David Egan with Bucanero Fuerte
David Egan with Bucanero Fuerte (Damien Eagers/PA)

“The season got off to a flyer for him but that’s horses, the best ones put so much into the training, they try so hard it is why things tend to go wrong.

“But he’s in great order now, he’s back doing a piece of work and we’re happy again with him now. We have the whole of the autumn to aim at with him, he’s a horse who likes soft ground too, he won the first day on heavy ground.

“The sprint division is open, there’s no star at the minute. Unfortunately, we had to miss Ascot and that race cut up quite badly, three or four came out of it.

“If he gets back to his best, he should take a bit of beating.”



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Bucanero Fuerte camp have ‘loads of options’ to consider

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Future plans remain fluid for Bucanero Fuerte after connections were forced to concede defeat in the race to get their star sprinter back on-song in time to contest the July Cup at Newmarket.

A Group One winner in last season’s Phoenix Stakes, Adrian Murray’s charge looked a serious contender for the Commonwealth Cup after making a successful return in the Lacken Stakes at Naas in May, but suffered a bout of travel sickness after crossing the Irish Sea and did not line up at Royal Ascot.

There was some hope Bucanero Fuerte would recover in time to take on his elders for the first time on the July Course – but having now been ruled out of that prestigious contest too, Murray is unsure at this stage when his Wootton Bassett colt will return to competitive action.

“He lost a bit of weight (after travelling to Ascot) and we need a few more weeks to get him back to where he was,” said the trainer.

“It’s disappointing, but that’s the way it goes – and long-term, in October when we get soft or heavy ground, he’ll love that. I’d say he’s a better horse on heavy ground.

“We’ve got loads of options, so we’ll get him right and see where we go.”

Bucanero Fuerte’s upcoming big-race entries include the Sapphire Stakes and the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh later this month, the Lennox and the King George Stakes at Goodwood and the Nunthorpe at York.

The horse Murray is hoping could provide him with back-to-back Phoenix Stakes wins next month is Arizona Blaze, who having won the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes and finished third in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot, ran another fine race in defeat when placed in last weekend’s Railway Stakes

Reflecting on his performance in finishing third behind Henri Matisse and The Strikin Viking, Murray added: “I was happy enough, maybe the race might have come a bit quick after Ascot, I don’t know.

“He stayed on very well at the finish and I’m happy with him. He’s come out of the race brilliant – he’s bouncing.

“He looks like a sprinter and he’ll probably go for the Phoenix.”

Another Murray-trained juvenile who was placed in Group company on Irish Derby weekend was California Dreamer, who was beaten half a length by Truly Enchanting in the Airlie Stud Stakes.

“I was delighted with her, she always looked a very promising filly,” said the Rathowen handler.

“I’d say she’ll improve again from the Curragh, but we haven’t really thought of anything for her yet.

“She’s had two quick runs now, so we’ll let her recover and make a plan. She’d be a certainty for a maiden, you’d imagine!”



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Bucanero Fuerte facing fitness race ahead of July Cup

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Connections are aiming to get Bucanero Fuerte back on track in the My Pension Expert July Cup, with this weekend’s Prix Jean Prat coming too soon after the setback which ruled the colt out of Royal Ascot.

Adrian Murray’s son of Wootton Bassett entered Amo Racing folklore as a two-year-old when amongst last term’s three victories, he provided Kia Joorabchian’s operation with a first Group One success.

His team abandoned the temptation to stretch out to a mile in search of Classic honours earlier this year, putting their eggs firmly in the sprint basket, a decision which looked a shrewd move when the brother to the Abbaye-winning Wooded made virtually all on his return in the Lacken Stakes at Naas.

That victory put Bucanero Fuerte amongst the favourites for the Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting, but along with Simon and Ed Crisford’s Vandeek and Karl Burke’s Elite Status, he missed out on Ascot as Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin stormed to glory.

Sticking to a sprint schedule and on the road to a full recovery, Bucanero Fuerte could now get the chance to belatedly lock horns with Inisherin if deemed fit to make the trip over to Newmarket for the six-furlong event.

“We’re thinking of the July Cup at Newmarket,” said Murray.

“He won’t be ready for France (Prix Jean Prat). We’re aiming for Newmarket but whether we will have him ready in time, I don’t know.

“He will have lost a good bit of weight and we’re having to build him back up. We’re hoping to have him there, but there’s no guarantee.

David Egan with Bucanero Fuerte after winning at Naas
David Egan with Bucanero Fuerte after winning at Naas (Damien Eagers/PA)

“We have a lot of options for him if we don’t get him to Newmarket.”

He went on: “It was unbelievable to see three of the favourites come out so close to the race (at Ascot), you couldn’t believe that would happen.

“Hopefully we can go to Newmarket, but we will just have to monitor how quickly he comes back to himself.

“He’s been back home a week and looks well, but it’s just he lost a bit of weight and it will be how quickly we can get that back on and get back into serious training with him.”



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Bucanero Fuerte ruled out of Commonwealth Cup

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Bucanero Fuerte has been ruled out of Friday’s Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot due to travel sickness.

Trained by Adrian Murray, the Wootton Bassett colt was among the leading contenders for the Group One having made a winning return this year at Naas.

His form at two, including a Group One win in the Phoenix Stakes and a third place in the Coventry Stakes a year ago marked him out as one of the best of his generation.

However, having travelled over to England early, he was showing signs of distress and is recuperating in Newmarket Equine Hospital.

A statement on X from his owners, Amo Racing, read: “Unfortunately Bucanero Fuerte will miss the Commonwealth Cup on Friday.

“After arriving in Ascot yesterday he was showing signs of travel sickness and was subsequently transferred to Newmarket Equine Hospital as a matter of caution where he has been monitored overnight.

“He spent a comfortable night there and remains well this morning but he will be forced to miss his intended engagement on Friday.

“We now look forward to his swift recovery and the rest of the season ahead.”



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Bucanero Fuerte too strong for Lacken rivals

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Bucanero Fuerte saw off all comers to make a successful start to his campaign in the Goffs Lacken Stakes at Naas.

Adrian Murray’s Wootton Bassett colt proved himself at the very highest level as a juvenile last season, winning the Group Two Railway Stakes and the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh as well as finishing third in the Coventry at Royal Ascot.

He was well beaten by Henry Longfellow on his final start of 2023 in the National Stakes in September, but proved he retains plenty of ability with a determined front-running display on his comeback.

Dropping back to six furlongs at Group Three level, 2-1 shot Bucanero Fuerte was on the pace from the off in the hands of David Egan and with the stands’ rail to help, he stuck to his guns deep inside the last of six furlongs to repel the late thrust of 5-4 favourite Givemethebeatboys by a head.

Paddy Power left the winner’s odds for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next month unchanged at 8-1, but Coral cut him to 6-1 from the same price.

Robson Aguiar, Murray’s assistant, said: “He’s a nice horse and is going to improve a lot because we were not hard on him and he will get fit from the race.

“He will go over six furlongs at Ascot. He has great speed and he stays well, so that is the plan for him now.”



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Naas return in the pipeline for Bucanero Fuertre

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Bucanero Fuerte is poised to make his eagerly-awaited return on Royal Ascot Trials day at Naas later this month.

The son of Wootton Bassett created history during a profitable two-year-old season, becoming both Amo Racing and trainer Adrian Murray’s first Group One winner when striking in the Phoenix Stakes.

Defeat in his final start as a juvenile over seven furlongs in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes played a key part in shelving plans to aim at this year’s Classics to focus on a sprinting-based campaign.

He was due to reappear at Ascot last week before a rethink from connections to stay closer to home, with the colt now set to kick his season off at Naas’ equivalent fixture where the Group Three Goffs Lacken Stakes will be his likely assignment.

That six-furlong event will put Bucanero Fuerte in line to take up his Commonwealth Cup engagement later in the summer as Amo Racing look to add to the double they enjoyed at the summer showpiece in 2023.

Murray said: “He might go to Naas (May 19). We were going to go to Ascot, but we decided to stay put and wait for something closer to home.

“He’s ready to rock and he’s bouncing at home. We’re going to go sprinting with him and he shows us an awful lot of speed at home.

“A mile would probably be pushing it for him and his brother (Wooded) won a Group One over five furlongs so it’s in the family and he has shown us he is not a slow horse as well.

“I think we’ll be sticking with the sprinting for a while.”



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Bucanero Fuerte set to skip Guineas with Ascot sprint preferred

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Bucanero Fuerte will be campaigned as a sprinter in the early part of the season, with connections foregoing a shot at the Qipco 2000 Guineas in favour of heading to Royal Ascot Trials day next Wednesday.

Adrian Murray’s son of Wootton Bassett was a high-class juvenile last term, winning three of his five starts and giving owners Amo Racing a first Group One success when blitzing the field in the Phoenix Stakes.

He was somewhat found out when upped to seven furlongs for the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes in his final start at two and having excelled over shorter, his team are now resisting the temptation to head to an early-season Classic over a mile.

He is pencilled in to return to the scene of his fine Coventry Stakes third for the Group Three Ascot Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes, which is also known as the Pavilion Stakes and serves as the perfect starting point for three-year-old sprinters aiming to return for the Royal meeting.

Murray said: “Bucanero goes to Ascot, he’s in the six-furlong race. It’s highly unlikely he will go for the Guineas.

“We’re going to campaign him as a sprinter, his brother (Wooded) won a Group One over five furlongs and he shows us an awful lot of speed. The Guineas could just kill him in the last couple of furlongs.”

Meanwhile, running plans for Amo Racing’s star performer King Of Steel could determine where impressive All-Weather Championships Finals Day scorer Elegant Man is seen next.

David Egan after winning aboard Elegant Man at Newcastle
David Egan after winning aboard Elegant Man at Newcastle (Richard Sellers/PA)

The son of Arrogate dazzled in handicap company when making all in Newcastle’s Easter Classic and is now set for Group One competition on his next start.

“He will be going for the Tattersalls Gold Cup or the Coronation Cup at Epsom,” continued Murray.

“It will depend on where they go with King Of Steel as he’s in the two of them and we will be avoiding him. Whichever he doesn’t go for, we would go for.

“Kia (Joorabchian, owner) has a good hand and some nice horses. We’ve got a great summer to hopefully look forward to.”



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Exciting big-race options are open to Elegant Man

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Elegant Man has the Lockinge and Coronation Cup as options after his Good Friday triumph was followed by a boost from the Middle East.

The Amo Racing-owned four-year-old ran three times through the winter, winning twice at Dundalk and coming home second behind Rebel’s Romance in the Listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton.

The impression he made in those runs left him carrying top-weight at Newcastle, where he ran in the BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance from a wide draw in stall 14.

Neither factor was a hindrance to him in the 10-furlong contest, however, and under David Egan he was an impressive winner when crossing the line a length and a half ahead of Mick Appleby’s Penzance.

Adrian Murray (left) with David Egan and Elegant Man
Adrian Murray (left) with David Egan and Elegant Man (Richard Sellers/PA)

“It was a big run, but we were expecting a big run and he didn’t fail to deliver – he’s a right nice horse,” said trainer Adrian Murray.

A son of the late American superstar Arrogate, Elegant Man’s form was quickly boosted the following day when Rebel’s Romance struck at Group One level to take the Sheema Classic at the Dubai World Cup meeting, a two-length victory that reflects very well on Elegant Man after their meeting at Kempton.

“It’s huge, a huge boost. The day when we met that horse we were very, very green, it was only the second time he’d ever seen a racecourse,” Murray added.

Elegant Man is entered in the Alleged Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday but will not run, and is instead likely to be aimed at either the Coronation Cup or the Lockinge.

“I entered him this morning for the Coronation Cup and he’s entered at Newbury over a mile, too,” said his trainer.

“He’s entered in the Curragh on Saturday but he won’t go there, the race will come up a bit quick for him so we’ll freshen him up again.”

Bucanero Fuerte winning the Phoenix Stakes
Bucanero Fuerte winning the Phoenix Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

Murray also trains Bucanero Fuerte for Amo Racing, a Wootton Bassett colt who won the Railway and the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last year and was third in both the Coventry and the National Stakes.

He holds an entry for the English and the Irish Guineas, but may head to Ascot for the Commonwealth Cup Trial in preparation for the Commonwealth Cup itself at the Royal meeting in June.

“He’s getting on great, we’re very happy with him,” Murray said.

“He’ll go for the Guineas or he’ll go for a race at Ascot, a prep race for Royal Ascot over six furlongs.”



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Adrian Murray upbeat over Bucanero Fuerte ahead of possible 2000 Guineas tilt

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Adrian Murray has issued an upbeat report on the wellbeing of his Group One-winning colt Bucanero Fuerte ahead of a possible tilt at the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

The Wootton Bassett colt won three of his five starts as a juvenile, landing the Railway Stakes and the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh as well finishing a close-up third in the Coventry at Royal Ascot.

He finished a well beaten third behind Henry Longfellow when a hot favourite to double his top-level tally in the National Stakes in September and he has not been seen in competitive action since, but Murray is thrilled with how his stable star has wintered ahead of his three-year-old campaign.

“We couldn’t be happier with him now. He did his first bit of work the other day and it was very, very good,” said the trainer.

“He’s entered for the Guineas and it hasn’t been decided yet whether he’ll go or not, whether we go up in trip or stick to six or seven (furlongs), we’ll see nearer the time.

“He’s improved a lot in the last six or eight weeks and has gotten very strong, he’s come in his coat and looks fantastic.

“It’s hard to say what we’ll do and he’ll tell us, but if we were to go for the Guineas we might just go straight there.

“He turned out to be a super horse for us last year. He didn’t run up to his best in the National Stakes, our horses were under a bit of a cloud at that stage, and he never travelled at all in the race – he wasn’t the same horse that we’d seen before that.

“I’m very happy with him at the moment and hopefully he’ll step up to the plate again this year.”

Crypto Force winning the Beresford Stakes
Crypto Force winning the Beresford Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

Bucanero Fuerte is just one of several Amo Racing-owned horses Murray is looking forward to seeing in action this term, with Crypto Force an exciting addition to the team.

The son of Time Test claimed the notable scalp of dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin on his debut two years ago, but has been off the track since winning the Group Two Beresford Stakes later that season for Michael O’Callaghan, having since failed to make the track during spells in training with John and Thady Gosden and latterly George Boughey.

Now a four-year-old, Crypto Force holds big-race entries in the Alleged Stakes (April 6) and the Tattersalls Gold Cup (May 26) at the Curragh and appears to be nearing a comeback.

“He’s doing grand and he’ll probably shortly be out, I’d say. We’re happy with him at the minute,” Murray added.

Another top-class prospect set to return to Ireland is Valiant Force, who provided Murray with a first Royal Ascot success when claiming a shock 150-1 victory in last summer’s Norfolk Stakes and finished a half-length second to Big Evs at the Breeders’ Cup.

The three-year-old stayed in America for the first part of the new year, but is soon set to make his way back across the Atlantic for a European campaign.

“We have some right nice horses to go war with this year. Valiant Force is coming back to us as well so we’re going to have him for Royal Ascot all being well,” said Murray.

“He’s ran twice in America (since the Breeders’ Cup), finishing second and fourth. It will be great to get him back and he’ll be targeted at all the top sprints.”



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Connections thinking of direct Guineas route with Bucanero Fuerte

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Bucanero Fuerte is likely to begin his three-year-old campaign in the 2000 Guineas after a juvenile season that saw only City Of Troy top him on ratings.

The colt is by Wootton Bassett and out of a mare called Frida La Blonde, making him a full-brother to 2020 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Wooded.

Trained in Westmeath by Adrian Murray and owned by Amo Racing, the bay made a winning debut at the Curragh last March and then took aim at Royal Ascot.

In the Coventry Stakes, a six-furlong Group Two, he was third at 16-1 when beaten only a length with River Tiber and Army Ethos.

That run led him to the Railway Stakes at the Curragh, where he prevailed ahead of Aidan O’Brien’s Unquestionable before returning to the same track to land the Group One Phoenix Stakes by four lengths.

Bucanero Fuerte winning in debut at the Curragh
Bucanero Fuerte winning in debut at the Curragh (Healy Racing/PA)

His final run as a juvenile was again at the Curragh, where he contested the National Stakes and was third behind Henry Longfellow in a run Murray considers to have been one too many.

Bucanero Fuerte has since been listed as the second-highest rated two-year-old of 2023, gaining a mark of 120 as City Of Troy topped the list on 125 and Henry Longfellow and Vandeek shared third place on 119.

Naturally there will be high hopes for them all and the Amo runner will look to live up to the expectations that come with his reputation in his three-year-old season.

The Guineas is the likely starting point for the horse, who will be entered in both the English and Irish renewals of the race, though the former is favoured by his trainer.

“He’s great, he’s been back cantering for two months now and I’m very happy with him,” said Murray.

Bucanero Fuerte winning the Phoenix Stakes
Bucanero Fuerte winning the Phoenix Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s got big and strong over the winter, I couldn’t be happier with him – he’s turned into a fine horse.”

Of Bucanero Fuerte’s place in the two-year-old rankings and his next steps, Murray added: “It’s hard to believe it but it’s brilliant really, we’re aiming to go to the Guineas with him.

“We probably wouldn’t go for a prep run and he’ll be entered in both, my preference would be the English I think.”

Murray and Amo Racing have another nice prospect in Elegant Man, an American-bred colt by Arrogate who won his debut at Dundalk in October.

He then stepped up to Listed level in the Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton in December, where he was second to a good yardstick in the Group One-winning Rebel’s Romance.

He began his four-year-old campaign at Dundalk last week, prevailing by three and a half lengths from Tyson Fury in an encouraging performance.

The colt has been put forward for the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March and that race is the immediate target ahead of the start of the domestic season.

“It was a lovely run, he’s come out of the race well,” Murray said of the Dundalk performance.

“There’s a lot more improvement in him too, we’re very happy with him.

“He’s nominated now to go to Dubai for the Dubai World Cup, he might not get in but that’s the plan at the minute.

“He’s still quite green, he’s learning, there’s more to come from him once he gets a little bit more experience.

“We’ll target the turf over the summer but we haven’t any plans after Dubai, so we’ll go there if we get in.”



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Bucanero Fuerte back next year with Classic bid in mind

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Bucanero Fuerte is finished for the season and will be trained in the early part of next with with a Guineas in mind.

Trainer Adrian Murray felt his lacklustre display in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes behind Henry Longfellow was a result of having one race too many.

He had earlier proved his class with a striking four-length victory in the Group One Phoenix Stakes over six furlongs, but Murray believes he was beaten too far out at the Curragh for stamina to have been the issue on his first attempt over seven.

“Nothing came to light, it just looked to me like it was a race too many for him,” said Murray.

Adrian Murray's career has been rejuvenated by his link with Amo Racing
Adrian Murray’s career has been rejuvenated by his link with Amo Racing (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s on a break now, he won’t run again until next year. I’ve given him an entry in the Irish Guineas and he’ll also get entered in the English Guineas.

“Hopefully he’ll have a prep run before going for one of those.

“He was beaten way too far out for it to be the trip, he was beaten before halfway, he never really travelled in the race.

“In all his other races he’d travelled so strongly but it was always going to probably happen because he’s a big colt, immature, and it was just a race too many really.

“He’s had five races now so he’s got plenty of experience at two if we’re thinking of a Guineas. That’s the plan anyway.”

Valiant Force sprang a huge shock at Royal Ascot
Valiant Force sprang a huge shock at Royal Ascot (PA)

Stablemate Valiant Force was a 150-1 winner of the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and has only been seen once since, when fifth of nine in the Prix Morny behind Vandeek.

“Valiant Force is going to go straight to the Breeders’ Cup,” said Murray.

“The plan for him is for him to then stay in America after that.

“We had him in at Doncaster last week but we had to take him out because of the ground, it’s frustrating because we just can’t get the ground to suit him. That wouldn’t have suited at all last week.

“I’m not sure yet which race he’ll run in over there, I’ll have to talk to Kia (Joorabchian, owner), he’ll have a few options.”



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National Stakes set to be must-watch, with O’Brien colts poised for action

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Aidan O’Brien holds an incredibly strong hand in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, with high-class colts City Of Troy and Henry Longfellow poised to take each on at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Ballydoyle handler’s youngsters arrive at the Kildare track with a course and distance victory and Group Two success to their name, but while one will further enhance their growing reputation by adding a first top-tier victory, the other will lose their unbeaten record.

The duo are both riding high at the top of the ante-post markets for next year’s Classics, and O’Brien, who is quickly bearing down on 4,000 winners, could get a big indication of who is Ballydoyle’s number one as he attempts to end a six-year drought in the Group One contest.

“At the moment it’s the plan (to run both). We’re happy with both at the moment,” he said on Saturday afternoon.

City Of Troy and Henry Longfellow will face the sternest examination of their career when they come up against Adrian Murray’s Bucanero Fuerte – who has already proven himself on the big stage.

Since finishing third to River Tiber in the Coventry Stakes, the son of Wootton Bassett has twice thrived over six furlongs at this track, following up a battling victory in the Railway Stakes with a dominant display in the Phoenix Stakes.

The latter of those two triumphs gave owners Amo Racing a first Group One and his handler is riding a crest of a wave with his stable star.

“It’s a dream to be involved with a horse like him and I never could have imagined it could have happened to me – it’s just what dreams are made of,” said Murray.

“He seems to be getting better and better. He won at the Curragh the first day and then went to Royal Ascot for us to finish third and that for us was as good as having a winner. He then came home and won the Railway and then won the Phoenix – it’s hard to believe.

“He looks like a horse that’s going to train on, he’s a big, long scopey horse and a beautiful mind. He’s thriving with racing and hopefully he keeps it going.”

Bucanero Fuerte has never raced beyond six furlongs, but the strength he has shown at the finish over that distance has connections excited to now tackle and extra furlong.

Murray, who also saddles the outsider Cuban Thunder, added: “He’s always struck me as a horse that needed a step up in trip and I can’t wait to see him running over seven furlongs and a mile. You’d be expect him to keep improving as we step him up.

“He worked very well at the Curragh last week and I could not be happier with him.”

Givemethebeatboys was a place behind Bucanero Fuerte in fourth at Royal Ascot but now has five and a half lengths to make up judged on Phoenix Stakes form, while Joseph O’Brien has won this race in two of the last three seasons and is this time represented by Futurity Stakes runner-up Islandsinthestream.



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City Of Troy puts Classic credentials on line in National Stakes

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City Of Troy and Bucanero Fuerte will clash for the first time at the Curragh on Sunday in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

Six have been declared and Aidan O’Brien will bid to return to the roll of honour for the first time in the Group One event since 2016 with his promising son of Justify, who made it two from two with real authority in the Superlative Stakes.

He is already the ante-post market leader for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Derby, but faces his toughest opponent to date in the form of Adrian Murray’s Bucanero Fuerte.

The Wootton Bassett colt already has a Group One victory to his name and connections are relishing a highly-anticipated head-to-head.

The Bucanero Fuerte team after winning the Phoenix Stakes
The Bucanero Fuerte team after winning the Phoenix Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

“The team at Adrian’s are delighted with him, Robson (Aguiar) rides him on a regular basis and is delighted with him. He hasn’t missed a beat since the Phoenix Stakes,” said Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for owners Amo Racing.

“He’s run four times and has the experience and is battle-hardened. He’s always had a touch of class from day one, but he can be a streetfighter.

“I know it’s 10-1 bar the two, but it’s no match race and there are a couple of others to be wary of despite City Of Troy looking the one to beat.”

O’Brien has also left in his unbeaten Henry Longfellow.

It promises to be a big afternoon for the master of Ballydoyle who has leading chances across the card and sees the return of his staying star Kyprios in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger.

Kyprios returns from a long absence to defend his Irish St Leger crown
Kyprios returns from a long absence to defend his Irish St Leger crown (Donall Farmer/PA)

The five-year-old carried all before him on the long-distance scene last season before injury has seen him sidelined for most of the current campaign and he will face off against four rivals that include Eldar Eldarov.

O’Brien will also saddle the unbeaten Ylang Ylang in a field of nine for the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Ante-post favourite for the next year’s 1000 Guineas, she gets her first shot at Group One glory with the pick of her opposition appearing Donnacha O’Brien’s Royal Ascot scorer Porta Fortuna and Willie McCreery’s Vespertilio.

Bradsell (left) and Highfield Princess (right) will meet again in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes
Bradsell (left) and Highfield Princess (right) will meet again in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes (John Walton/PA)

Highfield Princess is the headline act in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes as John Quinn’s sprinting star faces nine rivals when defending her crown.

The six-year-old brought up a Group One hat-trick when a convincing winner of the race 12 months ago and although victories have been less common this term, she has continued to feature at the business end of all the major sprinting events.

She will go toe-to-toe once again with Royal Ascot conqueror Bradsell, with Archie Watson’s charge having three-quarters of a length to find from the duo’s most recent meeting in the Nunthorpe, while others of note include track specialist Art Power (Tim Easterby) and French raider Bouttemont (Yann Barberot).



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Team Amo taking aim at Irish Champions Festival

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It is poised to be a huge weekend for owners Amo Racing as their high-class colts King Of Steel and Bucanero Fuerte fly the flag at the Irish Champions Festival.

The purple silks of Kia Joorabchian’s racing operation have become a regular sight in some of the calendar’s biggest races and will be front and centre at both Leopardstown and the Curragh respectively during a top-class weekend of racing in Ireland.

It is the Roger Varian’s King Of Steel who gets the first shot at glory and the Royal Ascot winner, who has made the podium in both the Derby at Epsom and the King George, finds himself at the top of the market for Saturday’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes in Dublin.

“It’s a very exciting time of the year and to be going to the Irish Champions Festival with two live contenders in two Group Ones is what we’ve been striving for over the last 18 months,” said Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for the owners.

King Of Steel spreadeagled his rivals at Royal Ascot
King Of Steel spreadeagled his rivals at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“It’s a culmination of real hard work from everyone involved, we’re excited and I know the boss is really looking forward to it.”

Having enjoyed his finest moments up at a mile and a half, the son of Wootton Bassett will be dropping back to 10 furlongs at Leopardstown.

But connections are confident King Of Steel has all the attributes to thrive in his latest assignment.

“We’ve been looking for an option to drop King Of Steel back to 10 furlongs all year, but so far it has just not presented itself and we’re very much looking forward to it,” continued Pennington.

Auguste Rodin (left) just got the better of King Of Steel at Epsom and the pair will meet again
Auguste Rodin (left) just got the better of King Of Steel at Epsom and the pair will meet again (David Davies/PA)

“There’s no such thing as an easy Group One, but we’ve been waiting for this race to present itself.

“The horse is in great form, I saw him at the weekend and he did a routine piece of work and did it very nicely and let’s hope he gets there in one piece now.”

Bucanero Fuerte will always hold a special place in Amo Racing folklore having provided the owners with a first Group One success when winning the Phoenix Stakes last month.

Also sired by Wootton Bassett, it was the youngster’s second successive Group-level victory having also finished third in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot before that.

Now Adrian Murray’s talented youngster will attempt to extend his winning thread as he steps up to seven furlongs for the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Pennington said: “He has always been a strong stayer at six furlongs and looks as if he’s been crying out for seven. His last furlong has been his best in his last in his last couple of races.

“At the beginning of the season he was a big frame of a horse with an engine, now he is really maturing into the horse we hoped he would.”

If Bucanero Fuerte is to add another big-race victory he will have to lower the colours of Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy, who is currently odds-on at the head of the betting.

The imposing son of Justify made it two from two in imperious style in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket – and connections of Bucanero Fuerte are under no illusion they have a mammoth task on their hands.

“Bucanero Fuerte does like to get his toe in, but we wouldn’t be overly concerned stepping up to seven – the one concern we do have is obviously City Of Troy,” added Pennington.

“You can’t be frightened of one horse, but what he did at Newmarket, to the eye, was visually impressive.

“We know he will take a lot of beating, but we think we’re going there with a live chance.”



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