Adrian Murray has outlined the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes as the logical next target for his recent Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner.
The son of Wootton Bassett has gone from strength-to-strength in recent starts and backed up his fine third in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot with a hard-fought success in the Railway Stakes on his penultimate start.
Adrian Murray's juvenile took his form to a new level when running out an authoritative four-length winner of the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last time to provide both trainer and connections AMO Racing with their first top-level success.
Adrian Murray reported his star youngster to have come out of the Phoenix Stakes in fine form and suggests a step up to seven furlongs in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes back at the Kildare venue is on the cards.
"He progressed well from the Railway thankfully and he still seems to be on an upward curve," said Murray.
"It looks like it will be the National Stakes next, that will be our target at the minute. We think he could improve for stepping up an extra furlong. He hit the line very well the other day. You would be expecting improvement again.
"He's made great progress right through the year. He's improving physically and to look at him, he's a bigger and stronger horse and has muscled up well. We are very happy with him."
Recent National Stakes winners include the likes of Native Trail, Pinatubo, Gleneagles, Churchill and Dawn Approach.
A bold bid in the Group 1 two-year-old prize would almost certainly have connections dreaming of a Classic campaign.
Murray added: "We will be thinking he should get a mile. For us, it's been a rollercoaster because you start off winning your maiden and you are not expecting to go as well as we are going.
"If he keeps on improving, you have to be thinking next year he is going to be a nice horse and he should be a miler.
"He's not your typical two-year-old and he's a big, big horse. He's a big, scopey horse and you would think he's a three-year-old to look at him.
"It looks good moving forward and we are very happy with him. If he keeps on improving the way he is, he'll definitely be stepping into the big races."
Bucanero Fuerte is a current 10/1 chance with Paddy Power for Classic success on Newmarket's Rowley Mile next year.
