Bucanero Fuerte is at the Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland

Bucanero Fuerte who was outstanding as a 2-year-old when he was dominant winner of the Phoenix Stakes (G1) for Amo Racing, has retired and stands at Tally-Ho Stud.

His father Wootton Bassett is widely regarded as a source of elite youth talent and Bucanero Fuerte fit that bill as one of the best youngsters of his generation. He retires with a career-high rating of 120; no other two-year-old Group 1-winning son of Wootton Bassett can boast higher.

Showing both precociousness and top class for Adrian Murray, Bucanero Fuerte made a winning debut on the first day of the Irish Flat season in March 2023 when he justified favoritism by winning a competitive five-furlong maiden race by almost three lengths.

He finished third, beaten by just a length on his next start in the Coventry Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot, before breaking into the group race in the Railway Stakes (G2) at Curragh, where he showed great fighting. qualities to be denied Indisputable subsequent winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).

It was his performance in the Phoenix, when he rode clear to win by four lengths, that put Bucanero Fuerte out of the top drawer as a two-year-old: “Led the race from start to finish and it was pretty much a deal done by the 2f pole,” said the Racing Post.

It seems like a particularly strong form now considering the second that day, Porta Fortuna has since won four Group 1 races.

Third-placed Bucanero Fuerte looked set for a big season this year when he returned to win the Lacken Stakes (G3) at Naas, in which he broke the track record, but he was compromised by illness ahead of Royal Ascot, which affected his season afterwards influenced.

“Bucanero Fuerte is a hugely important horse for Amo Racing,” said the company’s Kia Joorabchian. “His Group 1 victory in 2023, when he dominated the Phoenix Stakes last year, was a truly outstanding moment for all of us.

“We are proud to be able to retire him together King of steel at one of the best nurseries in Europe.

“As a top-class two-year-old who showed excellent training when he broke the track record at Naas on his comeback in May, we believe he has the required mix of qualities to excel in his new career.

“It is significant that he is the first Group 1-winning juvenile from his sire to retire to breed in Ireland and we are committed to fully supporting him on all fronts in the years to come.”

Roger O’Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud said: “Bucanero Fuerte possessed enormous class, speed and durability. There are few two-year-olds who can win on the first day of the season and then go on to Group 1 success; Bucanero Fuerte was an easy winner on both occasions, especially when he scored so emphatically in a top class field in the Phoenix Stakes.

“We are thrilled to have such a talented two-year-old and look forward to working with Amo Racing to strongly support him through breeding.”

A stud fee for Bucanero Fuerte will be announced at a later date.