Australia Colt Records Third Group 3 Victory

Saturday saw the Joseph O’Brien-trained Buckhurst (4c Australia - Artful, by Green Desert) make all to win the Group 3 Alleged Stakes at the Curragh.

The Lloyd Williams-owned colt won two Group 3 contests over course and distance of ten furlongs last season and made a promising seasonal return when finishing second at Listed level earlier this month. Wayne Lordan took the ride and asked the bay to quicken from two furlongs out, his mount keeping on well under pressure to win by a length and a half. The short-priced favourite Sir Dragonet (Camelot) claimed runners-up honours, with a further length and a quarter back to Numerian (Holy Roman Emperor) in third.

Speaking after the race, the winning trainer said, “Buckhurst ran a good race at Navan when he was unlucky not to win. He has come forward and coming back to 1m2f suited him. He's uncomplicated and got a lovely ride, he was able to control the race but he won well at the line. The Tattersalls Gold Cup is the obvious race for him.”

Buckhurst is one of two Stakes winners out of Artful, a half-sister to Group 3 Chintz (Danehill Dancer), also known as the dam of top-class miler The Gurkha (Galileo).

Saturday added to a terrific month for Australia, who along with siring a host of smart maiden winners, has been responsible for four Stakes successes.