FUERTE COMES TO THE FORE

lan Heitman sees a new star who has plenty of targets still to come

- lan Heitman

The first of 13 Group 1 races in Europe, the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, was dominated by Aidan O'Brien in the 2000s and 2010s, 14 of his 17 wins in the race coming during that period. Surprisingly there has been only one win in the race since 2017, that coming in 2022 courtesy of the now retired Little Big Bear.

With favourite for the race this year, Unquestionable, second to his main market rival Bucanero Fuerte in the Group 2 Railway Stakes on his previous start, and His Majesty third in the Railway, hopes would have been high for an 18th win.

Things didn't go according to plan for Unquestionable who banged his head in the stalls and lost a shoe, he travelled well close to the pace set by Bucanero Fuerte but failed to quicken and wasn't given a hard time by Ryan Moore, eventually finishing fourth, with His Majesty, who never landed a blow, in sixth. There will be other days for Unquestionable, but this race was dominated by the all the way winner Bucanero Fuerte.

He led throughout and ran on strongly inside the final furlong to win by four lengths from the previously unbeaten filly Porta Fortuna who kept on well but was no match for the winner. This was a landmark win for Bucanero Fuerte's owners Amo Racing Ltd, their first Group 1 as it was for trainer Adrian Murray and a second at the highest level for their retained jockey Kevin Stott.

The Middle Park Stakes at the end of September and the Dewhurst Stakes in October both run at Newmarket, two of the UK's five Group 1 races for two-year-olds, are likely to be on Bucanero Fuerte's agenda. A return to fillies only company for another of the UK Group 1's the Cheveley Park Stakes also at Newmarket at the end of September will be ideal for Porta Fortuna.