The Group II Railway Stakes (6f) at The Curragh on Sunday for juvenile colts produced a quinella for Wootton Bassett with Bucanero Fuerte edging out the race favourite Unquestionable.
The Adrian Murray trained Bucanero Fuerte won on debut at The Curragh back in March and then finished third at Royal Ascot in the Group II Coventry Stakes behind another Wootton Bassett colt in River Tiber.
Ridden by Rossa Ryan, Bucanero Fuerte challenged hard at the finish to score a head win over the Aidain O’Brien trained Unquestionable with four lengths back to the next horse.
“I knew Bucanero Fuerte would battle because he needs every yard of 6f. He's a tough horse, really tough. He's a beautiful-looking horse too and, you know what, he's going to improve again. When he won his maiden he was only a shell of a horse. He is twice the horse now than he was then. Please God, we will be back here again for the G1 Phoenix Stakes,” said Adrian Murray.
Purchase for €165,000 from the Arqana August Deauville Yearling Sale by Robson Aguiar, Bucanero Fuerte runs in the Amo Racing colours.
He is a full brother to Wootton Bassett’s Group I winning sprinter Wooded (IRE), who covered 84 mares at Swettenham Stud in Victoria last spring and is slated to return at a fee of $22,000 this year.
Bucanero Fuerte is also a full brother to Group III place Beat le Bon being one of four winners from good producer Frida la Blonde, a sibling to stakes-winners Fred Lalloupet and Mon Pote le Gitan.
He is the 35th stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett, who returns to Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $93,500.
