Underdog Power Blue defeats favorite True Love in the Phoenix Stakes surprise at The Curragh Racecourse in Ireland
Bucanero Fuerte Returns to Glory at the Curragh
After a tumultuous journey, Bucanero Fuerte, owned by Kia Joorabchian, has once again brought joy to its owner with a victorious performance at the Curragh. The horse, previously trained by Adrian Murray, won the Group Three FBD Hotels And Resorts Phoenix Sprint Stakes in 2023 and made a triumphant return to the track this year, winning the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.
The race was a thrilling one, with Bucanero Fuerte and Do Bronxs, another horse trained by Murray, setting the pace from the start. As the race progressed, Do Bronxs dropped away, but Bucanero Fuerte continued to lead. With a furlong to go, Bucanero Fuerte was ahead and went on to win by a length and a quarter.
Jockey David Egan gave an unbelievable ride to Bucanero Fuerte, repelling the challenge of True Love, trained by Aidan O'Brien, who was ahead with a furlong to go. Green Sense finished third, three and three-quarter lengths behind Power Blue.
Bucanero Fuerte's victory completed a 70-1 Group race double for trainer Adrian Murray and Amo Racing. The win was a significant one for the team, and Owner Kia Joorabchian praised the training performance of Murray and Robson Aguiar in the Phoenix Stakes.
The victory was a welcome relief for Owner Kia Joorabchian, who has had both joy and tough days with health scares with Bucanero Fuerte. The horse had a colic issue at Ascot this year, which derailed plans at Royal Ascot. However, Bucanero Fuerte returned to the care of trainer Adrian Murray after an unsuccessful stallion career and has once again shown its potential on the track.
Looking ahead, Bucanero Fuerte could be aimed at the Flying Five as it loves the Curragh. With a good second half of the season and a strong position to lead into next year, Owner Kia Joorabchian is optimistic about the future of Bucanero Fuerte.
Bucanero Fuerte, after initially training with Adrian Murray, demonstrated its racing prowess by winning the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, following its Group Three victory in 2023. The thrilling race saw Bucanero Fuerte edge out True Love in the final stretch, showcasing its potential in sports like horse-racing.
