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Bucanero Fuerte records Railway Stakes success at the Curragh

Bucanero Fuerte (near side) gets the better of Unquestionable in the Railway Stakes
Bucanero Fuerte (near side) gets the better of Unquestionable in the Railway Stakes

Adrian Murray bagged himself another big juvenile prize as Bucanero Fuerte battled back to edge out Unquestionable in the Gain Railway Stakes at the Curragh.

Murray sprang an almighty surprise at Royal Ascot when Valiant Force won the Norfolk Stakes at 150-1.

Bucanero Fuerte had also run at Royal Ascot, and with real credit when third in the Coventry Stakes, but that was only 12 days ago and there was a worry this Group Two was coming too soon.

He looked set to come off second best when pulling clear with Aidan O'Brien’s Unquestionable.

To his immense credit, though, the Wootton Bassett colt would not accept defeat and got himself in front right on the line to win by a short head as a 100-30 shot.

The victory was a second in three years for Rossa Ryan, who also took the prize on David Loughnane’s Go Bears Go in 2021.

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."

Dual Stewards' Cup winner Commanche Falls (5-4F) added a Listed race to his CV when registering a determined success in the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes.

Winning for the 10th time in his career, the six-year-old was having his first run in Ireland as he came home a length and a quarter clear.

Coming in off arguably a career-best effort when third behind his Michael Dods-trained stablemate and July Cup fancy Azure Blue in the Duke of York Stakes, by halfway Connor Beasley was hard at work as Anthem National and Mooneista went for home.

However, a trait in most of Commanche Falls’ victories is that the strongest part of his race is the finish and when he hit the front just over a furlong out, he was only just getting into top gear.

He had Anthem National back in second, with Mooniesta a further half-length back in third.

Dods’ daughter and assistant Chloe said: "He always takes a while to warm into his races and you would be worried if he wasn’t like that. Connor thinks he will be a better horse in a better race.

"He’s really chilled at home and doesn’t sweat at all. He’s a very chilled out horse and good to train.

"The races for him in the UK are quite limited, so that’s why we came here. I don’t think we will be put off coming here again if there is something."

Shane Foley returned from injury with a winner as Jessica Harington's Bold Discovery won for the first time since his debut in the Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes.

Foley faced a race against time to be fit for the Irish Derby having broken his collar bone almost four weeks ago and while he had no joy on Sprewell in the big race, he left happy enough with a Listed winner.

Bold Discovery (18-1) looked a very promising type when scoring first time out at two and he went on to be placed in the Killavullan Stakes.

He had been highly tried this season, finishing behind Paddington the last twice, most recently in the Irish Guineas.

Dermot Weld’s filly Tarawa all the rage on the back of her fast-finishing fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas behind her stablemate Tahiyra.

With just over a furlong to run, Bold Discovery took over from Pretreville and held off the challenge of Tarawa by half a length.

Harrington said: "That’s what he was showing us earlier in the year.

"He had allergies and kept scoping wrong after his races, but we’ve been able to treat them since the Guineas and he’s all right now.

"He loved going around that bend and for a big horse, he goes on that quick ground.

"That was really good and I’d say he will come forward from that and get a bit of confidence."

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