SUPERB Keeneland Phoenix Stakes winner Bucanero Fuerte could be set to step up to seven furlongs for the first time before the end of the season.

Kia Joorabchian, whose racehorse ownership vehicle Amo Racing owns the star juvenile in conjunction with Giselle De Aguiar, has indicated that connections are considering top-level options in Ireland and Britain this autumn. This includes the chance of an appearance at the Irish Champions Festival in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes on September 10th.

Bucanero Fuerte became Ireland’s highest-rated two-year-old in training with a rating of 119 thanks to his four-length Curragh success, which also provided Amo Racing with a first victory at Group 1 level earlier this month.

Joorabchian told The Irish Field: “It was a great thrill to see him do what he did at the Curragh. I think we’ll now go for the National Stakes next or the Dewhurst Stakes, something along those lines. The way he hits the line, you would look forward to seeing him over seven furlongs at some stage.”

The Adrian Murray-trained colt by Wootton Bassett also holds an entry for the Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 30th and is priced at no bigger than 4/1 - the same odds as is the case for the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at the same venue on October 14th.

Ballydoyle plans

In other Irish Champions Festival-related news, Aidan O’Brien confirmed at York this week that Auguste Rodin remains on track for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.

A tilt at the Leopardstown feature will offer a chance for the dual Derby winner to leave behind a most disappointing performance when bombing out in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

However, the Ballydoyle maestro did not fully commit to running last year’s brilliant Comer Group International Irish St Leger star Kyprios on day two of the festival at the Curragh, though he is still apparently under consideration for that Group 1 option.

Kyprios has not been seen since a spectacular Prix du Cadran win last October, having met with a setback earlier this season.

O’Brien told ITV Racing: “Auguste Rodin is on the Irish Champion Stakes programme. We’re very happy with him. Everything is going lovely with him so far.

“Kyprios is getting back. He’s definitely ready for a run around the Leger time but whether he would be ready for a race of that calibre we’re not sure. Everything is going really well for him so far. We’re going slowly with him.”