Fastnet Rock four year-old Buckaroo showed serious promise in three runs in stakes races in Ireland last year and showed he was back better than ever with a first up win in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1m) at Leopardstown.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien for Qatar Racing, Buckaroo won the Listed Tetrarch Stakes last year before finishing sixth in the Group I Irish 2000 Guineas.
Ridden by Oisin Murphy, Buckaroo produced a solid effort at his seasonal return scoring a neck win over last year’s Group I Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs.
“Buckaroo was really straightforward, he had lovely form last year. Joseph identified this race about a month ago so it has been the plan for some time. It was a sit and sprint sort of race, and I loved the way he battled when a very good filly came to him. He has admirable qualities and I hope the best is to come from him,” said Oisin Murphy.
Buckaroo is the best of three winners from stakes-winning Galileo mare Roheryn, a daughter of fast More Than Ready filly La Chunga, who won the Group III York Albany Stakes and Summer Stakes.
He is bred on the magic Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick that runs at close to 20% SW to runner.
The progeny of Fastnet Rock were in hot demand at Inglis Easter earlier this week with seven yearlings averaging $475,714.