Tag Archive for: Valiant Force

Murray delighted to have Valiant Force back on track

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Adrian Murray’s Valiant Force has a Group-race return to Dundalk on his agenda after getting back to winning ways at the track last time out.

The American-bred three-year-old, who is owned by Amo Racing, has some eye-catching form to his name, as he won the Norfolk Stakes as a two-year-old and was only narrowly beaten by Big Evs when runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last November.

A spell in the States followed before his switch back to Murray in the spring, but his three sprint outings during the summer all ended in disappointment.

However, he made a successful return from a 55-day break in a conditions race at Ireland’s sole all-weather track earlier this month, beating course specialist Harry’s Bar, and is now set to step up in grade in the Group Three Mercury Stakes on Friday before a potential trip to the Middle East.

“We were delighted to have him back and delighted to see him winning,” said Murray.

“He’ll go for a Group Three there now and we haven’t ruled out going to Dubai with him yet, it all depends on how he does next time, but we were very happy with him the last day.”

Murray has a promising young horse in Hill Road, also owned by Amo Racing, who won his maiden by an impressive five lengths at Leopardstown in August.

His next run came in the Group One National Stakes, but he could only finish seventh of eight on that occasion and may now be put away until next season.

Murray added: “He was a bit under the weather after his last race.

“We’ve nothing planned, he isn’t telling us he’s ready to run again and we might just leave him off for next year.”



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Moss Tucker in good shape for defence of Curragh title

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Moss Tucker will make the short journey from Osborne Lodge to defend the FBD Hotels And Resorts Heritage Hotel Phoenix Sprint Stakes crown he won 12 months ago at the Curragh.

Trained by Ken Condon, whose training base is situated less than two miles from the Kildare track, the six-year-old made all to secure the Group Three title by two and a quarter lengths before dropping back in trip to win the Flying Five Stakes at the same venue a month later.

A tilt at the Prix de l’Abbaye wrapped up his 2023 campaign, resulting in a midfield finish, before claiming Listed honours under a penalty at Naas in March.

Moss Tucker has not been seen since finishing seventh in the Greenlands Stakes in May and Condon is relishing his return this weekend with a busy autumn campaign lined up.

Moss Tucker wins the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes in 2023
Moss Tucker, second right, followed up his Phoenix Sprint Stakes win with victory in the Flying Five Stakes at Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)

“He seems fine. He had an aborted trip to Goodwood, there was rain forecast that didn’t materialise,” Condon said.

“It’s (Curragh) a different track, just the layout, we had a bit of rain earlier in the week so I’m sure it will be great and with the autumn campaign in mind he hasn’t raced for quite some time. There’s a couple of big targets and you’d like to get a race under his belt.

“He’s been ready to go a couple of times and the ground has just dictated it. He’s in good shape, he does run well at the Curragh and has done in the past. I’m hoping he can put up a good performance.”

Connections of Electric Storm are anticipating another strong performance when she makes the trip across the Irish Sea.

The James Tate-trained filly, who won both starts as a three-year-old, has been productive since stepping up to black-type races this campaign, which began with a runner-up finish in the Lansdown Stakes at Bath in April.

She claimed her first success at Listed level in the Cecil Frail at Haydock in May, before being headed by Shouldvebeenaring in the closing stages of a Group Three at Deauville last month.

Ryan Moore was aboard the four-year-old for her narrow defeat last time out and the pair are reunited at the Curragh as she looks to stamp her mark in Group company.

Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager to owner Saeed Manana, believes Electric Storm will only improve ahead of her sixth career start.

“She’s an improving filly and she got nabbed the last stride at Deauville last time, I thought she had won there. She ran a really great race,” Robinson said.

“That was Ryan’s first time on her and he will probably have learned a bit more about her going forward to this weekend.

“I don’t know how good she could end up being, but she’s very progressive and I like her a lot. She’s getting better and better every time and it should be perfect ground, I’m looking forward to watching her.”

Big-spending Wathnan Racing are hoping to build on their impressive week at Goodwood, with Archie Watson’s Shartash running in the six-furlong contest.

The four-year-old was five and a quarter lengths behind winner Khaadem in eighth on his Wathnan debut at Royal Ascot, but got much closer last time out when headed close to the line by Shouldvebeenaring and Electric Storm at Deauville in July.

“Shartash is obviously coming back in class a little bit,” Wathnan’s European racing adviser Richard Brown said.

“We would probably have preferred a bit more rain, but I don’t think it will be rattling and we’re happy for him to take his chance.”

Adrian Murray admitted Valiant Force is an unknown quantity after finishing down the field in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh last month.

“He’s been disappointing his last two runs and he will run if it’s quick ground. If it turns soft we might pull him out as he doesn’t enjoy soft ground,” Murray said.

“He’s very good at home, but it’s a bit of a fact-finding mission on Saturday. He’s showing us at home he’s as good as he’s ever been so we have to run him and see.”

British interest is rounded off with James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue, while Givemethebeatboys runs for Jessica Harrington and My Mate Alfie starts for Ger Lyons.

The Charles O’Brien-trained Big Gossey is eyeing successive triumphs at the Curragh, Jakajaro lines up for David Marmane and Dylan Browne McMonagle rides Ano Syra for John James Feane.

Torivega, trained by Sheila Lavery, Michael O’Callaghan’s Twilight Jet and the Patrick Foley-trained Tango Flare complete the 13-runner field.



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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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Valiant Force to remain in America following big Cup run

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Valiant Force is set to remain in America following his brilliant second at the Breeders’ Cup.

The son of Malibu Moon went into Amo Racing folklore earlier in the summer when his shock 150-1 Norfolk Stakes success at Royal Ascot gave Kia Joorabchian’s racing operation their first triumph at the summer showpiece.

That victory earned Valiant Force a ticket to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and after an unsuccessful foray up at six furlongs in the Prix Morny, connections bided their time in anticipation of perfect conditions in California.

Although sent off somewhat unfancied by the layers, he came within half a length of a second surprise big-race success when runner-up to Big Evs and with the pick of his form coming on fast ground, will now continue his career stateside.

“We were waiting for good ground with him He’s a very good horse and to be second was brilliant,” said trainer Adrian Murray.

“You are hopeful for these things to happen but they don’t always happen and we had a great week. I was really proud of the horse.”

He went on: “We took him over for the Prix Morny and he couldn’t get out of the soft ground at all. So we decided then we wouldn’t run him again until the Breeders’ Cup.

“At the minute he is staying in America. There is a possibility he might come back for Royal Ascot, but the ground doesn’t really suit him here, he needs fast ground.

“The plan for the last two or three months was pretty much to go to the Breeders’ Cup and probably stay there. He’s going down to Florida I think.

“He’s been brilliant and you couldn’t dream of these things to happen. To have a winner at Royal Ascot and then go to the Breeders’ Cup and be second is just class.”

Trainer Adrian Murray has enjoyed a fine season
Trainer Adrian Murray has enjoyed a fine season (Brian Lawless/PA)

The trip to the Breeders’ Cup was the culmination of a special season for Murray who not only tasted glory at the Royal meeting with Valiant Force, but also secured a first Group One triumph thanks to the exploits of Bucanero Fuerte.

“I really enjoyed it (the Breeders’ Cup) and it was some experience,” said Murray

“The season has been absolutely fantastic and could not have gone any better. We’re just very very lucky to have some right nice horses.”



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Murray delighted to be California dreaming with Amo pair

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It will be a dream come true for Adrian Murray when he gives William Buick the leg-up aboard Royal Ascot hero Valiant Force at the Breeders’ Cup.

The youngster became the first winner at the Royal meeting for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation when landing a shock 150-1 victory in the Norfolk Stakes earlier in the summer, and has already earnt a special place in both his trainer and owner’s affections.

Although well held in the Prix Morny last time, the speedy son of Malibu Moon will now attempt to add further riches when he drops back in trip for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

“It’s a dream now come true and I’m delighted with the horse,” said Murray.

“He will have his conditions. He wants fast ground and hopefully he will put up a good show – he’s in good form, he’s very well in himself.

“There’s a lot of things that can go wrong, but we’re excited about him anyway and it’s great to be going over with a nice horse.

“It looks like William Buick is going to take the ride.”

Murray will also saddle Valiant Force’s stablemate Cuban Thunder during the opening night of Breeders’ Cup action in California.

The son of Profitable has been highly tried since winning impressively at York earlier in the season and was last seen finishing third in Listed company on the all-weather at Dundalk.

He will now encounter dirt for the first time as he lines up over an extended mile in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“It will be a new adventure for him and hopefully he will do himself good,” added Murray.

“If he ran to his best, you would be hoping he could run into a place or hopefully even better. He’s entitled to go over.”

Trainer Adrian Murray has enjoyed a fine season
Trainer Adrian Murray has enjoyed a fine season (Brian Lawless/PA)

For Murray – who as well as enjoying Royal Ascot success in the summer, has also tasted Group One glory thanks to the exploits of Bucanero Fuerte – it will be the fulfilment of a lifetime ambition when he crosses the Atlantic for the end-of-season meeting for the first time since 2001, and the first time in a professional capacity.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I was at the Breeders’ Cup once way back at Belmont the year Galileo ran and I was only there as a spectator,” said Murray.

“I never dreamt I would be there as a trainer, we’ve had just an unbelievable year and it’s just got better and better.

“It’s brilliant and I can’t wait for it to happen. Hopefully it will be good weather over there and we can get a bit of sun on our backs.”



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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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Breeders’ Cup the ultimate goal for Valiant Force

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Adrian Murray is targeting further big-race success having got on the Royal Ascot scoreboard with Valiant Force in the Norfolk Stakes.

The Irish handler saddled only three runners at the Royal meeting and as well as Valiant Force’s shock 150-1 Norfolk triumph, Murray also saw Bucanero Fuerte run with real credit in the opening day’s Coventry Stakes to finish third.

Both two-year-olds are owned by Amo Racing and are now set to be campaigned at the highest level, with the Breeders’ Cup highlighted as the long-term aim for Valiant Force having provided Kia Joorabchian’s racing operation with their long-awaited first winner at the summer’s big meeting.

“I couldn’t believe he was 150-1,” said Murray. “I was drawing a line completely through his last run as he ran no race at all that day and with his form with His Majesty before that, I felt he had a right chance.

“He’s probably going to be aimed at the Breeders’ Cup now in November. He will more than likely run before then but having talked to the owner he is keen to go there, so that will be our big target for him.

“He’s a horse with a lot of speed, so I would say we will stick to five furlongs for the time being.”

With Valiant Force being pointed towards America, it could be left to Bucanero Fuerte to fly the flag on home soil with the son of Wootton Bassett set to continue plying his trade in Group company.

Curragh Races – Saturday 25th March
Bucanero Fuerte winning at the Curragh (Healy Racing/PA)

Although the GAIN Railway Stakes on July 2 may come too soon for the improving colt, a trip to the Curragh could be on the cards for the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes later in the summer on August 12.

“He’s a really nice horse and I think he’s going to be a really good horse down the road, there’s lots of improvement to come from him yet,” continued Murray.

“He might go for a Group One at the Curragh, but we will need to sit down and have a discussion. He’s entered for a couple of Group Ones but it might be the Phoenix Stakes for him. He’s entered in all the good races anyway, but we’re not going to rush him though.”

Reflecting on Bucanero Fuerte’s Coventry run when third to Aidan O’Brien’s River Tiber, he added: “I would say if he was able to have got a tow into the race longer, he might have got closer the other day.

“I don’t know if he would have beaten the winner or not, but it would have been more helpful for him. It was just the way the race went for him, he was in front and went idle a bit, he was a bit green. But there should be lots more improvement to come from him.”

As well as providing his big-name owner with a Royal Ascot victory, it was the biggest success of Murray’s training career in its own right – something that the Westmeath-based trainer is still coming to terms with.

“It’s been fabulous and I can’t complain, it’s been a great week,” he said.

“It still hasn’t sunk in. You go there with great chances and you can still get beat, it’s a tough game. But we were delighted with the week.”



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Valiant Force produces 150-1 Norfolk Stakes surprise

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Valiant Force caused a 150-1 shock in the Norfolk Stakes, the opening race on day three of Royal Ascot.

Trained in Ireland by Adrian Murray and owned by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing, he was always up with the pace in the centre of the track under Rossa Ryan and while he had previous experience with two runs, he was unconsidered by punters.

Ryan got into a good rhythm aboard the Malibu Moon colt, who had finished runner-up to His Majesty on his debut at the Curragh before being well held in a Group Three contest over six furlongs at the same track on his second run.

The field split into two and six of the first seven home were in the far side group, up the middle of the track.

Bookmakers were in clover as 66-1 chance Malc finished a length-and-a-quarter second, with well-supported Elite Status, sent off the market leader at 7-4, only third.

Wesley Ward had left no one in any doubt that American Rascal was the star of the show from his American raiding party, yet while briefly threatening, he faded tamely in the final furlong.

Not one of the more well-known trainers in Ireland, Murray was walking on air afterwards.

Valiant Force (left) leads the way in the Norfolk Stakes
Valiant Force (left) leads the way in the Norfolk Stakes (Jonathan Brady/PA)

“It’s brilliant, I just cannot believe it. I fell into racing by accident, I’m just speechless,” he said.

“We knew he was a nice horse and we couldn’t believe the price. He was only beaten half a length by His Majesty first time out and he was 150-1 today, it just didn’t make sense! I knew he was much better than that. It’s the stuff of dreams. It’s great for the small man.

“I’ve had some nice jumpers and I love it, I just love racing. ”

Malc’s trainer Richard Fahey was aiming to win the race for the third year in succession and just came up short.

Valiant Force with Rossa Ryan
Valiant Force with Rossa Ryan (PA)

He said: “I’m delighted with him, over the moon. Coming here I thought I had a real nice bunch of two-year-olds, but the way the others had run I couldn’t be confident.

“It’s so tough here, you need everything to go right and for a couple of the others it didn’t go right. Today everything did go right, he sticks his head down and he has a go.

“To be honest we think he’s a six-furlong horse, but at Ascot you almost want a six-furlong horse over five. In the mid-part of the race, I’m not saying that’s where we lost it, but he got a little outpaced and the winner got first run. But I’d have taken second before the race.

“Today was the target so we’ll have to see what we do next.”

Karl Burke said of the beaten favourite: “A furlong out I thought we might catch the leader, but he just couldn’t get there.

“He’s a lovely horse. The Prix Morny was always our target before today. I’ll go and have a word with Sheikh Obaid, but I imagine we’ll step him up to six.

“He’s not the finished article yet, but he’s a lovely horse.”



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