British Champions Day sends the UK Flat season off into the sun for another year as the nights get longer and the jumps get more prominent.
Saturday’s fixture looks exciting on paper, and at this early ante-post stage, two horses running in the British Champions Sprint Stakes have caught my eye.
Below, I explain why.
1:55 Ascot – Bucanero Fuerte @ 25/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 0.5pt EW
It’s fair to say that Bucanero Fuerte has had his fair share of unpredictable issues this season.
He won on his seasonal reappearance when giving three pounds away to the subsequent Group 3 winner Givemethebeatboys before sustaining a setback due to travel complications at Royal Ascot.
Running after a long break in the Group 1 Sprint Cup Stakes and then over five furlongs eight days later in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes can, in my eyes, be forgiven.
Looking back on last season, the Wootton Bassett colt won in soft conditions on debut before winning the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes three starts later over six furlongs.
🏆BUCANERO FUERTE 🏆
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
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 12, 2023
On paper, beating the subsequent four-time Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna by four lengths is great form.
His juvenile form also got a boost at the end of 2023 when Unquestionable, a horse he beat in the Group 2 Railway Stakes, went on to win the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in November.
In the days leading up to Ascot on Saturday, I can envisage a market move coming for Bucanero Fuerte as a stiff six furlongs on slightly softer ground should suit well.
1:55 Ascot – Beauvatier @ 12/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 0.5pt EW
Speaking of classy individuals, Beauvatier certainly ticks plenty of boxes.
Connections have campaigned him to suggest he’s full of quality as he ran in the French 2000 Guineas on his second start of this season before engaging in three further Group 1 contests.
The best of the bunch came most recently where he finished an eye-catching third to Ramatuelle, third in the hot Newmarket 1000 Guineas earlier this season, and Kinross in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret.
Ramatuelle powers home in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Foret Presente par Education Above All for @CHeadRacing and @lemaitre60LA at @paris_longchamp! pic.twitter.com/saXhMnZ7bd
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 6, 2024
As a juvenile, he chased home Rosallion and Unquestionable in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and he came from a similar early position as Rosallion to stay on through the line.
He’s clearly not an easy animal to win with as connections drop him well off the pace frequently to try and settle him. He was rather keen in the French Guineas, after all.
However, much like Bucanero Fuerte, a testing six on similarly testing ground should work on paper.
Interestingly, seven of the last 10 winners of this race had won over seven furlongs before success in this six-furlong contest, so a sprinter who has a bit of extra stamina in the locker is preferable.
This stat points positively to a few in this year’s race, notably this French raider.
