A Group I winner last year of the Curragh Phoenix Stakes, Wootton Bassett colt Bucanero Fuerte made his seasonal return at Naas overnight winning the Group III Lacken Stakes (6f) in a thrilling finish.
Trained by Adrian Murray and ridden by David Egan, Bucanero Fuerte made the running and kept going to the line to hold off the favourite Givemethebeatboys, who had the benefit of a first up win last month under his belt.
Bucanero Fuerte has four wins and two placings from six starts and will head to Royal Ascot with the Group I Commonwealth Cup for three year-old sprinters the goal.
“He’s 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,” said assistant trainer Robson Aguiar.
Purchased 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 has covered 177 mares at Swettenham Stud in Victoria in his first two seasons here and is slated to return at a fee of $22,000.
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.
Wootton Bassett will have his first Australian runners next season and is due to return to Coolmore Australia although his fee is yet to be confirmed.
