CONNECTIONS of tough-as-teak two-year-old Bucanero Fuerte believe they could have a genuine 2000 Guineas contender on their hands after the high-class prospect prevailed in a cracking battle with Ballydoyle’s Unquestionable in the Gain Railway Stakes.

It was the second time that owners Amo Racing managed to claim the Group 2 event with a juvenile who had been beaten at Royal Ascot, as Go Bears Go also landed the prize in 2021 after being touched off in the Norfolk Stakes.

Representing the Adrian Murray team, Bucanero Fuerte, who won the first maiden of the 2023 season at this venue in March, had finished an excellent third to River Tiber in the Coventry Stakes just 12 days earlier.

He showed no ill effects from that effort and was sent off the 100/30 second favourite.

It seemed as though there were no prisoners taken in terms of the gallop set in windy conditions, and two colts by Wootton Bassett - also the sire of River Tiber - pulled four and a half lengths clear of the field in a time of 1 minute 9.97 seconds (apparently the fastest running of the race in at least 35 years).

Galway native Rossa Ryan, deputising for the suspended Kevin Stott, was also notching his second Railway win in the space of three years, with this one coming by just a short-head.

“He was very gutsy,” said the winning rider. “Unquestionable never laid down and this lad stuck his neck out. I’d imagine when he goes up to seven, maybe with a bit more juice in the ground, he’ll be a lot happier.

‘Cruise control’

“He’s got a lovely cruise control and he gave me a super feel throughout. He’s got a great mind to top it all off so I’d say the future is bright with him.

“You’ve got to give credit to Adrian Murray and his team. They were confident he had bounced out of Ascot well and it was a big test coming against one of Aidan O’Brien’s who was fresh and hadn’t been to Ascot. They’ve pulled a nice way clear.”

On whether Bucanero Fuerte might be a proper 2000 Guineas contender next season, Murray added: “He just could be. He likes a bit of dig in the ground and this would have been a bit quick for him. He’s entered in the Phoenix Stakes and could go to France either for something like the Prix Morny.

“He’s a big, backward horse so we won’t rush him after two quick runs. He’ll definitely step up in trip in time. His toughness helped him today.”

JOHNNY Murtagh is making a habit of notching big-race winners on Ireland’s top weekends, and the 2023 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival was no different.

Fresh from a Group 3 winner on Saturday, the classic-winning trainer brought up a 67/1 premier handicap double, started by a battling success for fast-improving four-year-old Blues Emperor in the €100,000 Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap.

The market, and jockey bookings, suggested that Rahmi was the stable’s best chance of collecting in the mile contest but it was the mount of Shane Kelly who pulled out all the stops on the front end to run out a one-length winner for owners Helen and Mark Keaveney.

Murtagh said of the 7/1 scorer: “Rahmi is a flashy worker but this horse, when you get him to the races and get him into a rhythm, is hard to pass. A stiff mile here is good for him and he’s very brave.

“I rode winners for these owners many years ago and I’m so grateful they’ve sent me a horse to train.

“They’re lovely people and lucky owners. They’ve also bred this horse, and that’s extra special.

“Blues Emperor is entered at Leopardstown in the Nasrullah Handicap [on July 13th] and will probably go there. Rahmi might head to Galway.”

Cracking the code

Big-handicap regular Safecracker completed the Murtagh brace under Ben Coen in the Dubai Duty Free Irish EBF Ragusa Handicap for Godolphin.

Sent off at 15/2, it was the five-year-old’s first win at this level, having been runner-up in five premier handicaps over his career prior to this.

Murtagh said: “He’s probably due that. I fancied him last time when second in the Cork Derby and he stayed on well there. He’s a very genuine horse. It’s great to win another big pot this weekend with this type of horse. He’s the last horse who Godolphin have in Ireland. It’s great for everybody.

“Maybe something like the Ebor could be a nice race for him.”

Falls collects for visitors

The theme of British sprinters dominating Ireland’s top races over short distances continued in the Listed Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes as Commanche Falls gained an overdue first win in pattern company as 5/4 favourite.

Owned by Doug Graham, Ian Davison, Alan Drysdale and trained by Michael Dods, the likeable six-year-old had too much for Joseph O’Brien’s duo, Anthem National and Mooneista, and scored by a length and a quarter.

With the winning trainer not present, jockey Connor Beasley said: “This horse is one in a million, really. He’s won me two Stewards Cups and he’s been in all the big handicaps there are back home. Now he’s obviously into this next level.”

HARRY’S Hill made Irish Derby day 2023 an especially memorable one for the Hassett family, with the fast-finishing 14/1 shot coming out on top in a frantic finish to the Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap where less than half a length separated the first five home.

Apprentice Wayne Hassett, riding for his grand-uncle Martin, claimed a vital 10lb off the winner; meaning the five-year-old raced with just 7st 11lb on his back in the €100,000 contest.

The victory by a head sparked joyous scenes in the winner’s enclosure for the family and winning owners The Tipp Ramblers Partnership. Groom Megan Hassett also collected a €4,000 prize courtesy of the race being named the World Pool’s ‘Moment of the Day’.

Master Matt and Michaela’s Boy dead-heated for second, with another short-head back to Big Gossey and a neck to Run Ran Run.

“It’s an absolute dream come true,” said the 17-year-old winning rider. “To ride a winner for the Hassett family makes it even more special. I went out nice and confident because he’s won up here before on the stand’s side rail and I felt if the gaps came, he’d pick up. I was smiling going past the line.”

Discovery finds his way

Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley were out of luck with Sprewell in the Irish Derby but didn’t leave the Curragh empty handed.

Bold Discovery, a useful juvenile last season who trailed the Irish 2000 Guineas field when previously seen, bounced right back to form to land the Listed Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes for owner Marc Chan.

The 18/1 success by a half a length from Irish 1000 Guineas fourth Tarawa (13/8 favourite) provided Foley with his first victory since returning a day earlier from a collarbone fracture.

Harrington said: “That’s what he was showing us earlier in the year. He had allergies but we hadn’t been able to treat them until after the Guineas.

“For a big horse, he goes on that quick ground. I’d say he’ll come forward from this.”

Fozzy’s Aussie on top

A late, late decision from Fozzy Stack to declare Aussie Girl in the €100,000 Dubai Duty Free Summer Fillies Premier Handicap paid off spectacularly as the Peter Piller-owned three-year-old recorded the biggest success of her career under Jamie Powell.

The 5/2 favourite was wheeling out just four days on from a decent second at Naas. She did enough to hold off a late challenge from Lan Cinnte, pulling off a fine training performance from Stack.

He said: “I only declared her at 9.55am on Friday morning when I saw there were just nine in the race and the weights were rising.

“Obviously it wasn’t planned out that she only ran a few days ago - and it’s her third race in a fortnight - so we’re probably defying every law in the book. She’s tough and hardy. It’s great for Mr Piller, who has had horses with us a long time.”