Amo Racing's stallion prospect wins Flying Five Amo Racing and trainer Adrian Murray combined for a second Curragh-Group 1 win of the year today, as stallion-prospect Arizona Blaze (11/2) landed the Group 1 Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes under David Egan. Kia Joorabchian’s ownership model continues to fascinate, being a bulwark against established breeding behemoths, and having scored with juvenile Power Blue in August’s Phoenix Stakes, today bagged another top-level win with another valuable colt. Having landed the Sapphire Stakes over course-and-distance in July, Arizona Blaze was a beaten-favourite when finishing 11th of 17 in last month's Nunthorpe and was today the choice of Amo’s retained jockey Egan, over shorter-priced stablemate Bucanero Fuerte (9/2) who had won his last two starts. While Bucanero Fuerte eventually finished a close third, Arizona Blaze held on well for a length success over Nighteyes . Egan reported “people thought that Bucanero Fuerto was the pick of our two and it was close to a flip of a coin for me, but I always had a lot of faith in this horse and Adrian Murray and Robson (Aguiar, assistant) can get horses to bounce back. The bit of ease in the ground helped and it was the best form I’ve ever felt him in.” Joorabchian, with a lump in throat, added “I’m so happy for this guy (Arizona Blaze), and I’m so emotional about it because he deserves it. He’s been just beaten in Group 1 races and today was his day. David is riding unbelievably, and he has such a positive energy that he’s given us so much confidence in the whole operation. “What an amazing job Adrian and Robson have done with him. They have never lost belief in him even when he’s ran so-so. He’s so tough. It was a very tough decision for David whether to ride him or Bucanero (Fuerte). We knew Arizona is a stallion prospect and that’s what did it for him. “I got in two hours ago from Keeneland. We bought about 14 or 15 horses.” Quotes from Alan Magee
