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Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)
IRELAND’S most decorated two-year-old of the season so far took his form to new heights in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, as Bucanero Fuerte blitzed his rivals to provide trainer Adrian Murray and owners Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar with a first Group 1 success.
A four-length demolition job over previously unbeaten Albany Stakes scorer Porta Fortuna confirmed the Wootton Bassett colt to be an exceptional talent, readily confirming his Railway Stakes superiority over well-held 13/8 favourite Unquestionable, who never looked like landing a telling blow and was beaten five and a half lengths in fourth. Ryan Moore said the Ballydoyle colt banged his head on the stalls before they opened and lost a front shoe.
Kevin Stott made plenty of use of his imposing, long-striding mount. The 9/4 winner appeared to take a fair deal out of his rivals from the front and effectively had the race in the bag a furlong from home.
It was a powerful performance that indicated he could well be up to staying seven furlongs in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival.
Murray said: “He was very impressive. We had him here 10 days ago doing a piece of work and Robson [Aguiar] got off him and told me he’s the best horse he’s ever rode. He was definitely correct in that one. Robson is a master at picking horses at the sales.
National target
“This is a serious horse. That’s three runs and three wins here at the Curragh, he’s the horse of a lifetime. I’d say it’ll be the National Stakes now and I don’t think he’ll have any problem stepping up to seven furlongs.
“He would prefer an ease in the ground but he has won on good ground. The ground today would be a bit easier than the last day.
“He was very impressive in his maiden here on heavy ground but it’s not an issue for him as he’s won on quick ground as well. It’s unbelievable for everyone, it’s hard to explain it.”
Paddy Power cut Bucanero Fuerte to 12/1 (from 16/1) for next year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas, a market currently headed by deeply exciting Ballydoyle juvenile City Of Troy at no bigger than 2/1.
AIDAN O’Brien’s already impressive team of two-year-olds enhanced further in depth with a double in the two maidens on the card.
There had been plenty of chat prior to racing about 2,400,000gns yearling purchase Diego Velazquez and the Frankel colt did not disappoint in the seven-furlong Bord Na Mona Recycling Irish EBF Maiden.
The close relation to high-class performers Broome and Point Lonsdale pulled clear by four and three quarters of a length under Ryan Moore to earn quotes of between 6/1 and 10/1 for next year’s Betfred Derby.
On the whole, it was an encouraging result for the Coolmore partners, who also supplied the third, Old Faithful, and fourth, Surfers Paradise, but runner-up Guildenstern was particularly promising for the Joe Murphy team.
O’Brien said: “We had him ready to run about a month ago and he got a little injury so we had to stop and start again. He was just ready to come racing today. Ryan said he was very babyish but he obviously has a massive engine. Ryan said he only came on the bridle with 50 yards to go and only realised he was racing then. You’d like to give him another run somewhere before he goes for a big one.”
Blossom has York target
The second leg of O’Brien’s brace came in the Keeper’s Heart Irish & American Whiskey Irish EBF Maiden over six furlongs when Cherry Blossom proved in a different league to her rivals as 8/13 favourite under Moore.
A daughter of No Nay Never who had caught the eye when fourth of seven runners in the Listed Marwell Stakes at Naas on debut, she now looks set for a tilt at group company.
“She’s probably a very smart filly and we’ll have a look at the Lowther with her now,” said O’Brien.
“She looks like a Cheveley Park Stakes filly in time. She’s a big, powerful filly - a typical No Nay Never; pure speed.”
KEN Condon notched up his biggest success of the season when the highly admirable Moss Tucker made all for a seventh career victory - this being the five-year-old’s highest-profile win yet in the Group 3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes.
Rated 74 when recording his first win in a Tipperary maiden at the sixth attempt around this time two years ago, the speedy gelding by Excelbration was two and a quarter lengths too good for the 108-rated Go Athletico here, scoring at 8/1 under Billy Lee in the colours of the Charlie Bit Me Syndicate.
British raider Commanche Falls proved a bit disappointing in fourth as 2/1 favourite, having looked uncomfortable and come off the bridle earlier than ideal.
Condon said: “He was very good and for a sprinter he’s ultra reliable. The Prix de l’Abbaye has been sort of the plan all year. He ran well there last year [when fifth] and handles those testing conditions. He might go straight there now but if the ground is on the right side for him in the Flying Five, he’ll come back here.”
Rolla’s experience counts
A fine run of form for Paddy Twomey continued in the ARC American Racing Channel Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race when Cork debut winner A Lilac Rolla made it two wins in two starts under Billy Lee, who recorded a double on the card.
Stepping up to seven furlongs was an unknown for the six-furlong maiden winner, but she toughed it out well to deny Leopardstown winner Opera Singer by a head, while well-backed newcomer Red Viburnum caught the eye flashing home for third late on.
Classy options
Twomey is not short of options now for the Mutual Admiration Society Partnership-owned winner, who returned at odds of 5/2.
“The trainer was a bit worried about the seven furlongs but the owner assured me that the dam had won over ten and the jockey said she got it well,” said Twomey.
“The plan had been the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes back here at the Irish Champions Festival and I figured more experience was no harm for that. Her plans might get upgraded. A €300,000 sales race is nice but blacktype is forever if she can get it.”
THERE was a poignant outcome to the Revamp Conservation & Restoration Handicap over a mile as Crystal Black, ridden by Seamie Heffernan, provided Gerry Keane with another visit to the winner’s enclosure in an excellent season for the Meath trainer.
The strongly-supported 5/1 joint-favourite raced in the colours of the Wear A Pink Ribbon Syndicate, and the half-length success over Something Nice came on an emotional day for the winning owners.
The day of this meeting marked two years since the passing of Breda Miley, a popular figure closely associated with the syndicate. The group of owners have gone on to raise funds for cancer charities in her honour.
Keane said: “This horse has had a lot of problems but today was going to be his day unless something went really wrong. He has an entry in the Cambridgeshire and, if he gets in, he’ll probably run. Our horses are running very well for some reason this year. We have eight or ten in training and I think that’s our seventh winner. You can’t do it without the horses.”
More magic for Hassetts
The Curragh is quickly becoming a happy hunting ground for the Hassett family, whose Secret Magician got up in the dying strides to break the heart of Livingstone Range in the six-furlong QuinnBet Handicap.
Strong in the market as 9/2 favourite, he was landed in front right in the nick of time by 7lb claimer Wayne Hassett for his grand-uncle Martin, following up a win for the same duo in the Rockingham Handicap with Harry’s Hill earlier this summer.
Speaking after the Deirdre Hassett-owned four-year-old’s victory, the delighted winning trainer said: “I thought he was caught for a bit of toe at one stage but he’s as tough as nails. He had no luck at Galway last time; he was drawn 17, got cut in half and met more trouble than you would outside Supermacs in Thurles on a Saturday night!”
Queenie crowned
Trainer Paul Flynn has been enjoying a fruitful summer with his dual-purpose string and one of his biggest winners of the campaign came with the diminutive Little Queenie in the concluding Sheehy Motors Skoda Handicap.
An honest, front-running four-year-old owned by Michael Connolly, the successful 7/1 shot boxed on tenaciously to produce a career-best performance under apprentice Robert Whearty, scoring by three quarters of a length.
Flynn said: “She’s just getting stronger now - and quicker. A good, stiff five furlongs is probably ideal with a little bit of juice in the ground. She’s a really tough filly.
“Robert gave her a great ride. He has one winner left on his 7lb claim but he’s great value.”
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