Adrian Murray's gamble to turn Bucanero Fuerte (100/30) out just twelve days on from his excellent third in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot paid off as he battled back bravely to land the opening Railway Stakes on Derby Day at the Curragh.
The Adrian Murray-trained runner created a smart impression when winning the opening two-year-old contest at the Curragh on debut back in March and ran an absolute blinder to finish a length behind River Tiber in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on his second outing.
There were plenty of question marks surrounding his quick reappearance, but the likeable colt showed no signs of that race leaving a mark at the Curragh this afternoon.
Stablemate Lightening Army took the field along at a fierce clip with Bucanero Fuerte chasing the early pace in behind. Bucanero Fuerte travelled kindly under Rossa Ryan in the slipstream and readily took it up with two furlongs to run but was soon confronted with a stern challenge in the face of Unquestionable as the 15/8 market leader laid down his challenge.
The two sons of Wootton Bassett set down to fight it out entering the final furlong and although Bucanero Fuerte was probably headed deep inside the furlong pole, he responded to every urging from Rossa Ryan and battled on gamely to get back up under the shadows of the post.
Aidan O'Brien's His Majesty (5/2) finished four and a half lengths adrift back in third.
It was a second success in the juvenile Group 2 for connections AMO Racing and jockey Rossa Ryan who landed the spoils with the David Loughnane-trained Go Bears Go in 2021.
Speaking with Racing TV, Rossa Ryan said: "He had every chance to give up on me to be honest."
"Ryan came with one withering run, and we were nip and tuck from the furlong pole. He's stuck his head out really well. Very game. It didn't really feel he [Ryan Moore] got past me. He always got to me, but he never got by me."
"He's a big rangy horse. I'd imagine going up to seven with a bit more juice in the ground would make him a lot happier. He's got a great mindset. He's by one of the top stallions around and if I was AMO [Racing] I'd be pretty excited about him."
Bucanero Fuerte has been introduced at 16/1 by Paddy Power for next year's 2000 Guineas with Ascot conqueror River Tiber currently heading the betting at 7/1. Unquestionable was trimmed from 20/1 to 16/1 following a gallant effort in defeat.
Winning trainer Adrian Murray said: "He's a tough horse. We took a chance running him today quick after Ascot and he didn't let us down. Robson [Aguiar, assistant trainer] said he was on fire during the week, and we had no other option only to go for it. He's entered in the Phoenix Stakes, and he could go to France, we are not sure yet. We'll give him a bit of a break now. He's a big backward horse and we are not going to rush him. He's had two quick runs.
"We'll definitely step him up in trip as that's what won it for him today. We made plenty of use of him as we knew he would see it out. He likes a bit of dig in the ground and if anything, it was a bit quick for him today."
Aguiar added: "We train in Mullingar, and I joined Adrian about five years ago. This horse has plenty of pace and ran well in Ascot. He won over six today and can go further.
"We paid €165,000 for him [as a yearling at Arqana] which I think is cheap as he's by Wootton Bassett, who is a great sire, and the mare has produced black type [Group 1 winner Wooded]."
