After just missing in Friday's Group II Curragh Cup with last year's Irish Derby winner Latrobe, the Lloyd Williams colours were to the fore at The Curragh on Saturday when Buckhurst claimed the Group III International Stakes(1/14m).
The 3yo son of Australia was caught three wide the trip under Wayne Lordan but was strong at the finish to defeat Blenheim Palace (Galileo) by 1/2-lengths with Georgeville (Dawn Approach) a neck away in third. (photo Irish Field)
It was the first stakes win at the fifth start for the Joseph O'Brien-trained colt who made a winning debut over a mile at Leopardstown on April 6 before a fifth in the Group III Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on May 12 and a runner-up finish in the Group III Gallinule Stakes on May 24.
"He's a decent horse, we brought him to Ascot last week, but we didn't run because the ground was quite soft over there. He loved the bit of good ground today," O'Brien told Irishracing.com.
"We'll see how he comes out of the race but we won't be in a rush with him. He didn't run at two and he's had plenty of racing this year so far.
"He'll step up in trip at some stage, he's an Australia, but he doesn't need to go further yet. He'll go a mile-and-a-half at some stage.
"He should be a better horse next year. He's still learning and when the horses came around him today he went on again."
Lordan said he was confident enough in Buckhurst to keep him three deep.
"He's a very straight forward colt. I just wanted to sit forward and he stays well," he said.
"He hasn't much experience, that's only his fourth start, I didn't want to get stopped on him so was happy to go a bit wide and have my own space.
"He got to the line well and is an exciting colt. I think he can keep progressing, and you would think he should get further."
Buckhurst was a 70,000gns purchase from The Castlebridge Consignment at Tattersalls October Book 1.
A half-brother to Listed Rose Bowl Stakes winner Duplicity (Cadeaux Genereux), Buckhurst is just the second winner from five to race out of the winning Green Desert mare Artful who is a half-sister to Group III winner Chintz (Danehill Dancer) the dam of the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Group 1 Sussex Stakes winner The Gurkha (Galileo) and to the dam of the New Zealand Stakes winner Savile Row (Makfi) who was runner-up in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas, Group 1 Levin Classic and Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes.
