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Just a short-head separated Bucanero Forte and Unquestionable when they were first and second in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh last month, and they are likely to meet again over the same course and distance in Saturday's Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.
Unquestionable's trainer Aidan O'Brien has multiple entries in the Phoenix Stakes, including the Royal Ascot winner River Tiber, but he has indicated that the Coventry Stakes scorer will bypass the Curragh contest in favour of the Prix Morny at Deauville a week later.
There could still be a Royal Ascot winner in the Phoenix line-up as Albany Stakes winner Porta Fortuna, trained by Donnacha O'Brien, is still engaged.
Co Westmeath trainer Adrian Murray has entered his Norfolk Stakes winner Valiant Force but says he is more likely to rely on his Railway Stakes winner Bucanero Fuerte instead, that colt having finished an excellent third in the Coventry Stakes.
He said: “Bucanero Fuerte is the one that’s probably going to go. All has gone well since the Railway. We took him and Valiant Force to work at the Curragh last week and we were very happy with the two of them. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.
“You don’t know until you run, but looks like he (Bucanero Fuerte) is improving all the time.”
Assuming Bucanero Fuerte does line up at the Curragh, his stablemate Valiant Force could head to France in search of a Group 1 win of his own.
“He’s going to Deauville in two weeks’ time for the Prix Morny. We’re looking forward to it – the pressure is on,” Murray added.
Givemethebeatboys, fourth in the Coventry Stakes, is another notable Phoenix Stakes contender for trainer Jessica Harrington.
A strong British-trained contingent is set to line up for the Group 3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint. These include Tiber Flow, trained by William Haggas, recent Curragh winner Commanche Falls, trained by Michael Dods, Royal Acclaim trained by James Tate, and the Philip Kirby-trained Anthem National. The home trained team features Moss Tucker, Go Athletico, Ana Syra and Shartash.
The Curragh will also race next Sunday, when the Michael John Kennedy Memorial Stakes will be the feature race. That listed contest over nine furlongs has attracted 26 entries, including Azazat, Indian Wish, Sounds of Heaven, Eternal Silence and Villanova Queen.
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