Murray preparing to unleash classy Breeders’ Cup pair

Adrian Murray has a smart team of Amo Racing-owned sprinters en route to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup meeting next week.

Arizona Blaze leads the way, with the three-year-old son of Sergei Prokofiev last seen winning the Flying Five at the Curragh ahead of his third-placed stablemate Bucanero Fuerte.

It was a return to form for the former, who was unplaced in the Nunthorpe on his previous start but had enjoyed a fruitful season prior to that when winning the Sapphire Stakes and just missing out on the Commonwealth Cup by a neck.

He will contest the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in California, where he will aim to go one better than his second-placed run in the juvenile version last season and will likely cross paths with Bucanero Fuerte again.

“Arizona Blaze is in great form, we’re really pleased with him,” said Murray.

“He’s going to go for the Sprint on the turf, Bucanero is entered in the same race and he’ll also be entered in the Mile.

“That’s only a second choice really, plan A would be to run them both over the shorter trip.”

The two colts could be joined by Valiant Force, who was been seen to good effect on the all-weather at Dundalk recently and is a reserve for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on the dirt.

“We’re very happy with him, he’s had a great year,” Murray said. “He’s pretty handy on these surfaces so we hope it’ll suit him well.”

Valiant Force has also experienced a Breeders’ Cup near-miss in the past as he was second to Big Evs in the 2023 running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, and Murray would love to see at least one of his squad prevail this time.

“We’re really looking forward to going out there, we know it’s very competitive racing but we go there with a competitive team,” he said.

“Arizona Blaze was second last year, Valiant Force was second to Big Evs two years ago, it would be brilliant if they could go one better. It’s tough racing, but they’re a great team.”