Bucanero Fuerte and Rossa Ryan (purple) beat Unquestionable and Ryan Moore (nearest)© Photo Healy Racing
The Adrian Murray-trained Bucanero Fuerte emerged on top after a terrific tussle with Unquestionable in the opening Gain Railway Stakes at the Curragh this afternoon.
The Group 2 contest boiled down to a battle between the two market leaders in the closing stages of the six-furlong event.
They came to take it up from front-runner Lightening Army passing the two pole and it was the Ballydoyle colt, sent off 15/8 favourite, who had the narrow advantage passing the furlong marker.
Bucanero Fuerte dug deep for Rossa Ryan to get on terms inside the final furlong and just had his head in front at the death to secure a short-head victory for owners AMO Racing.
The 10/3 winner had claimed the opening two-year-old maiden of the year here in March and was a close third in the Coventry Stakes to River Tiber at Royal Ascot 12 days ago.
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 (Aguair, 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.”
Robson Aguair 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).”
Ryan told RTE afterwards:- “He was very gutsy today. Ryan's horse never laid down and this lad stuck his neck today.
“I'd imagine when he goes up to seven, maybe with a bit more juice in the ground, he'll be a lot happier.
“He's got a lovely cruise control and he gave me a super feel throughout. He's got a great mind to top it all off so I'd say the future is bright with him.
“We knew Gary's (Lightening Army) would get us to the two anyway and he was going a good old lick.
“It was playing into my hands, it was kind of taking the sting out of the gallop, and I just needed something to aim at before anyone came charging at me. It's worked out perfectly.
“You've got to give credit to Adrian Murray and his team. They were confident he had bounced out of Ascot well and it was a big test coming against one of Aidan's that was fresh and hadn't been to Ascot. They've pulled a nice way clear.
“I would imagine he might go up to seven and he'd be a lot better, I'd imagine.
“Amo aren't afraid to come back if it doesn't work out in Ascot. Go Bears proved that for us a while back.
“This lad is a completely different model to Go Bears, he was a tough hardy sprinter whereas this lad has a touch of class about him.
“He's a big, stronger horse. He doesn't feel like a sprinter and I'd say it's just class that has dug him out today more than anything.”
The winner was introduced at 16/1 for the 2,000 Guineas by both Betfair and Paddy Power.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
