Brilliant Bucanero Fuerte gives Adrian Murray and Amo Group 1 breakthrough at the Curragh

The dream keeps getting bigger for Mullingar trainer Adrian Murray and his Brazilian assistant Robson Aguiar, as the imposing Bucanero Fuerte made short work of a small but select field to give the trainer his first Group 1 success in the Phoenix Stakes.

The duo opted to run a pacemaker in the shape of the Gary Halpin-ridden Launch, but he proved no real help to Amo Racing's first string as he raced on the other side of the track. Bucanero Fuerte made his own running on the far side and kept up a searching gallop under Kevin Stott to score by four lengths.

The Albany Stakes winner Porta Fortuna stayed on to be second, a length and a half in front of Givemethebeatboys. The 13-8 favourite Unquestionable struggled to get into the race and finished fourth. 

The winner was making it three out of three at the Curragh, having won his maiden here in March before grinding out a short-head victory over Unquestionable in the Railway Stakes last month, with a respectable third in the Coventry Stakes sandwiched by those two efforts. He was cut to 12-1 from 16s for the 2,000 Guineas by Paddy Power.

A gleeful Kevin Stott and Adrian Murray shake hands after the PhoenixCredit: Patrick McCann

“He jumped so well that my pacemaker couldn't get anywhere near me because he was doing it so easy," Stott said. "I was able to ride my own race from there. I know he'll get further than this which is why I picked the race up so early and to be fair he galloped all the way to the line. If something had come at me I'm sure he would have gone again.

“He's an exceptionally nice horse. He's just so uncomplicated. I just didn't want it to turn into a sprint because he has such a high cruising speed. He just lengthens, he doesn't really quicken. It's nice to know that we go in next year with a nice Guineas prospect. It's brilliant for the whole team, it's a first Group 1 winner for Kia Joorabchian and Amo, and I'm just delighted for everyone involved.”

Murray said: “He was very impressive. We had him up here ten days ago doing a piece of work. Robson got off him and said he was the best horse he'd ever ridden. He was definitely correct on that one!

“He's a serious horse. That's three runs and three wins here, he's the horse of a lifetime. I'd say it'll be the National Stakes now and I don't think he'll have any problem stepping up to seven furlongs. It's an unbelievable feeling.”

Connections of the beaten horses also have plenty to look forward to, especially the runner-up Porta Fortuna. She was taking on colts for the first time and came home strongly inside the final furlong to finish second under Oisin Murphy.

“She ran a cracker," said her trainer Donnacha O'Brien. "She's Group-1 placed now and I'm delighted with her. I think she could step up to seven but staying at six wouldn't be a problem either. She was out there on her own today and had to do a little bit of donkey work. The Moyglare and the Cheveley Park are options for her. 

"She could do both, we'll see how she comes out of it. We'll watch the Debutante next week too and see what she could be taking on in the Moyglare."

Givemethebeatboys was running for the first time since finishing just behind Bucanero Fuerte at Royal Ascot and finished a respectable third under Shane Foley. 

“I'm delighted," said his trainer Jessica Harrington. "We've been third in a Group 1, we've beaten Aidan's [O'Brien] two in the race and we can't complain. The ground was probably a little bit slow for him. We might step him up to seven.”

Ryan Moore reported to the stewards that Unquestionable had banged his head on the stalls before they opened. He was also found to have lost a front shoe. 

Read these next: 

2.4m guineas Frankel colt Diego Velazquez slashed for Derby after swaggering to impressive debut victory 

Frankie Dettori to ride impressive Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Mostahdaf in Juddmonte International 

Racing Post Members' Club: subscribe for just £9.99 this summer 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.