Bucanero Fuerte powers into Classic contention for owners Amo Racing
Bucanero Fuerte powers into Classic contention for owners Amo Racing after winning Keeneland Phoenix Stakes in style
- Bucanero Fuerte turned the historic Keeneland Phoenix Stakes into a procession
- Colt trained in Ireland by Adrian Murray and ridden by Amo’s jockey Kevin Stott
- Bucanero Forte is now in the conversation to be named champion two-year-old
Bucanero Fuerte provided the most spectacular day to date for upwardly-mobile owners Amo Racing by giving them their first Group One success.
The colt, trained in Ireland by Adrian Murray and ridden by Amo’s retained jockey Kevin Stott, turned the historic Keeneland Phoenix Stakes into a procession, taking apart a high-class field over six furlongs with blistering speed and relentless galloping.
Increasingly over the past 18 months, the purple silks and white cap of Amo Racing, the venture of football agent Kia Joorabchin, have been a feature in the biggest contests with their most notable performer being King Of Steel, a beautiful colt who came within a whisker of landing the Epsom Derby in June.
But Bucanero Forte is now in the conversation to be named champion two-year-old after supplementing a win in the Group Two Railway Stakes last month, also at The Curragh, with a change of gear that left Royal Ascot winner Porta Fortuna and the 13/8 favourite Unquestionable, trained by Aidan O’Brien, legless. He was four lengths clear at the line.
Stott, born in Denmark, once dreamt of playing for Tottenham after he had a two-week trial at the club when he was 14 but he can now start thinking about a crack at the 2000 Guineas next May; Joorabchin recruited him to ride Amo’s horses in February and this was a significant moment.
Bucanero Fuerte won the Curragh’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes in style on Saturday afternoon
The colt and jockey Kevin Stott (middle) gave Amo Racing their first Group One success
‘I was half-expecting something to come to me but the further we went, the further clear we went,’ Stott explained.
‘When you are on a horse’s back, you aren’t looking behind; you are just going off the feel of what is happening around you but nothing came to me.
‘My lad is exceptional. He just kept stretching and stretching. He’s just a lovely, lovely horse.
‘This is a race that champions win and this is the regard we have for this horse. He has proven himself every time. These are the days you dream about. We want quality horses and to keep improving.
‘Unfortunately, Kia is in America but I know he will be on the phone plenty now! It will mean the world to him.
‘He had his first Royal Ascot winner this year, now he’s had his first Group One winner. The team is only going to get bigger and better. We want to challenge in the big races.’
Bucanero Forte is now in the conversation to be named champion two-year-old
There is no question that will happen. Murray, who made an impact at Royal Ascot himself in June when saddling Valiant Force, the shock 150/1 winner of the Norfolk Stakes, will now prepare Bucanero Forte for a clash with O’Brien’s City Of Troy in the National Stakes.
O’Brien was bidding to win the Phoenix Stakes for a staggering 18th time but it certainly wasn’t a bad day for the master of Ballydoyle, who took the wraps off a two-year-old colt called Diego Velazquez in the opening race of the day.
A son of Frankel, who cost £2.4million as a yearling, he produced a performance that was every bit as taking as Bucanero Forte.
Sent-off 2/5 favourite, he won by almost five lengths without ever engaging top gear, and is now a 10/1 to win the 2024 Epsom Derby. Take note.
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