Murray returns to Royal Ascot with big reinforcements after last year's record winner
Westmeath handler is targeting Group 1 glory in Berkshire
Friday, 14 June 2024
Murray gatecrashed the Ascot establishment last year and returns armed with his biggest-ever Ascot squad
An Ascot winner was something I never could have imagined would happen - Adrian Murray
Adrian Murray returns to Royal Ascot with his biggest-ever team a year on from landing a record 150/1 winner, writes Ben Hart.
Valiant Force made history as the joint highest-priced winner in the history of the Berkshire meeting last year and the Breeders’ Cup runner-up is bidding to land a first Group 1 win this time.
Last year was only Murray’s second trip to Ascot and he could not have scripted it any better.
“An Ascot winner was something I never could have imagined would happen,” he said.
“It was beyond my wildest dreams to have horses good and competitive enough to go there and then win.
“The first day we started off with Bucanero Fuerte and he was third and that was as good as a winner to us. Then Valiant Force capped it off by winning.
“It meant everything. That’s what you dream of but you don’t imagine it can happen. For us to even go there was great, it’s a huge thing to be a part of but to have a winner was just magical.
“This year, we’re going with some great chances. If we can bag one winner. it would be mighty great.”
Valiant Force has not been seen in the UK or Ireland since last year’s triumph in the Norfolk Stakes but with David Egan on board, he is well respected in the King Charles III Stakes, currently priced at 16/1.
“He went to France after Ascot and the ground was too soft for him,” said Murray.
“He didn’t run again last season after the Breeders’ Cup, he’s a fast ground horse and he ran the race of his life over there to come second, we were delighted with him.
“We decided to leave him over there and he didn’t seem to handle the dirt even though he’s bred for it, so he came back to us two months ago and we’re very happy with him.”
Bucanero Fuerte, meanwhile, tasted top-flight success in last year’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh and is well-fancied in this year’s Commonwealth Cup at just 8/1.
“He had a prep race in Naas and he had to work hard to win it but it transpired to be a very good race and he’ll improve a bit from that,” said Murray. “He’ll be bang there.”
Ascot is a unique test and both stable stars boast prior experience of the track and with their preparations having gone smoothly, Murray is looking forward to seeing what they can produce.
“Bucanero is a very laid-back horse,” he said. “He was over there for five days last year and every time we looked into the stable he was fast asleep. Nothing bothers him.
“Valiant Force has been to the Breeders Cup’ and France, he won’t be lacking in experience or anything like that.
“They’ve both handled the track so it’s about luck on the day and being good enough.”
It's a busy week for Murray with plenty of high-class raiders set to make their mark including Elegant Man after disappointment in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and fast-improving filly California Dreamer in the Queen Mary Stakes.
Regardless of his team’s results on the track, the Westmeath handler is determined to enjoy the moment and not lose sight of his yard’s rapid rise to the biggest stage.
“Every year it seems to be getting better and better,” said Murray.
“My first year we had one runner, last year three and this year nine or ten. It’s so competitive over there, it’s the best running.
“We’re very lucky, we’ve got a lot of very nice horses and we’ve been getting better horses.
“Robson Aguiar (business partner) does a great job, he goes out to buy these and he only has one thing in mind: Group 1 horses.
“Thankfully, most of the horses they’re buying are working out very well for us. We’re really looking forward to Ascot now, the pressure is on.”
Valiant Force made history as the joint highest-priced winner in the history of the Berkshire meeting last year and the Breeders’ Cup runner-up is bidding to land a first Group 1 win this time.
Last year was only Murray’s second trip to Ascot and he could not have scripted it any better.
“An Ascot winner was something I never could have imagined would happen,” he said.
“It was beyond my wildest dreams to have horses good and competitive enough to go there and then win.
UNBELIEVABLE! Valiant Force is a 150/1 winner of the Norfolk at #RoyalAscot! #WinAndYoureIn @BreedersCup pic.twitter.com/4zPcBT2c6s
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 22, 2023
“The first day we started off with Bucanero Fuerte and he was third and that was as good as a winner to us. Then Valiant Force capped it off by winning.
“It meant everything. That’s what you dream of but you don’t imagine it can happen. For us to even go there was great, it’s a huge thing to be a part of but to have a winner was just magical.
“This year, we’re going with some great chances. If we can bag one winner. it would be mighty great.”
Valiant Force has not been seen in the UK or Ireland since last year’s triumph in the Norfolk Stakes but with David Egan on board, he is well respected in the King Charles III Stakes, currently priced at 16/1.
“He went to France after Ascot and the ground was too soft for him,” said Murray.
“He didn’t run again last season after the Breeders’ Cup, he’s a fast ground horse and he ran the race of his life over there to come second, we were delighted with him.
🏆BUCANERO FUERTE 🏆
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 12, 2023
Railway Stakes winner Bucanero Fuerte extends his perfect record @curraghrace by powering his way to Group 1 glory in the @keeneland Phoenix Stakes.
What a moment for Kevin Stott, @amoracingltd and @AMurrayRacing 👏 pic.twitter.com/YgmcBQwYBM
“We decided to leave him over there and he didn’t seem to handle the dirt even though he’s bred for it, so he came back to us two months ago and we’re very happy with him.”
Bucanero Fuerte, meanwhile, tasted top-flight success in last year’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh and is well-fancied in this year’s Commonwealth Cup at just 8/1.
“He had a prep race in Naas and he had to work hard to win it but it transpired to be a very good race and he’ll improve a bit from that,” said Murray. “He’ll be bang there.”
Ascot is a unique test and both stable stars boast prior experience of the track and with their preparations having gone smoothly, Murray is looking forward to seeing what they can produce.
“Bucanero is a very laid-back horse,” he said. “He was over there for five days last year and every time we looked into the stable he was fast asleep. Nothing bothers him.
“Valiant Force has been to the Breeders Cup’ and France, he won’t be lacking in experience or anything like that.
“They’ve both handled the track so it’s about luck on the day and being good enough.”
It's a busy week for Murray with plenty of high-class raiders set to make their mark including Elegant Man after disappointment in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and fast-improving filly California Dreamer in the Queen Mary Stakes.
Adrian Murray always knew he had a good one in Elegant Man 💜#ITVRacing | @NewcastleRaces | @awchamps pic.twitter.com/kQpmnZfy3T
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 29, 2024
Regardless of his team’s results on the track, the Westmeath handler is determined to enjoy the moment and not lose sight of his yard’s rapid rise to the biggest stage.
“Every year it seems to be getting better and better,” said Murray.
“My first year we had one runner, last year three and this year nine or ten. It’s so competitive over there, it’s the best running.
“We’re very lucky, we’ve got a lot of very nice horses and we’ve been getting better horses.
“Robson Aguiar (business partner) does a great job, he goes out to buy these and he only has one thing in mind: Group 1 horses.
“Thankfully, most of the horses they’re buying are working out very well for us. We’re really looking forward to Ascot now, the pressure is on.”