Bucanero Fuerte shrugs off penalty to make winning return

One of last seasons leading juveniles, the Adrian Murray trained Bucanero Fuerte made a winning start to his three-year-old campaign when proving too strong for five rivals in the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes at Naas.

Carrying a 3lb penalty for his Group 1 success last term, the Amo Racing owned colt was sent off 2/1 second favourite, as Givemethebeatboys headed the market.

Smartly away from stalls, David Egan went straight to the front, with Wayne Lordan close up on Alabama Egan switched his mount to the stands rail after a furlong, something that was potentially a race winning move.

As Lordan dropped back, Shane Foley emerged as a challenger on Givemethebeatboys over two furlongs out.

A furlong out, the race was certainly in the melting pot, as five horses were all in contention spread right across the track: Bucanero Fuerte, Givemethebeatboys, Jakajaro Military and My Mate Alfie

However, as Givemethebeatboys emerged from that quintet to throw down the final challenge to Bucanero Fuerte, Egan, with the help of the rail, stayed on strongly to prevail by a head.

Robson Aguiar (assistant trainer) said: “He’s a nice horse and is going to improve a lot because we were not hard on him and he will get fit from the race.

“He will go over six furlongs at Ascot. He has great speed and he stays well so that is the plan for him now.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.

Commonwealth Cup 8/1 unchanged with Paddy Power and Betfair