Bushranger (Irish horse)

On his racecourse debut Bushranger contested a five furlong maiden race at Tipperary Racecourse on 5 June and started third favourite behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Navajo and the filly Nubar Lady in a field of twelve. Ridden by Wayne Lordan he raced close behind the leaders before overtaking Nubar Lady in the final strides and winning by a neck.[7] The colt was then sent to England and stepped up in class for the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot on 17 June. He started the 4/1 but after being slightly hampered at half way he was beaten half a length by the 100/1 outsider Flashmans Papers. The colt then returned to Ireland for the Group Three Anglesey Stakes over six and a half furlongs at the Curragh on 13 July. With Lordan again in the saddle he started the 7/2 second favourite behind the O'Brien-trained Westphalia whilst the other five runners included Intense Focus and Heart of Fire, the winner of the Listed Rochestown Stakes. After being restrained just behind the leaders he took the lead a furlong out and won "comfortably" by two and a half lengths from Westphalia.[8]

Two weeks after his win in the Anglesey Stakes, Bushranger started the 2/1 second favourite in a five-runner field for the Group One Phoenix Stakes over six furlongs at the Curragh but never looked likely to win and finished third behind Mastercraftsman and the British-trained favourite Art Connoisseur. The colt was then sent to France for the Prix Morny over 1200 metres at Deauville Racecourse on 24 August in which he was ridden by Johnny Murtagh. He was made the 4.5/1 favourite ahead of the Italian-trained Lui Rei (winner of the Prix Robert Papin) whilst the other twelve runners included Classic Blade (July Stakes), Naaqoos (later to win the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère), Silver Frost (Prix de Cabourg), Gallagher (runner-up in the Richmond Stakes) and Lord Shanakill (runner-up in the Vintage Stakes). After tracking the leaders, Bushranger began to make progress 300 metres out, took the lead 150 metres from the finish and won by half a length from Gallagher.[9] Wachman commented "It was great. We have always thought a lot of him, and Johnny gave him a very good ride. It all went to plan, he got a lead and took it up late"[10] before adding "He'll get seven furlongs the way he stayed today. The owners have a lot of horses and we'll have to see what fits in with their plans".[11]

Murtagh again took the ride when Bushranger started the 15/8 favourite for the Group One Middle Park Stakes over six furlong at Newmarket Racecourse on 2 October. Gallagher and Classic Blade were again in opposition whilst the other six runners included Prolific (Richmond Stakes), Finjaan (Molecomb Stakes), Sayif (third in the Mill Reef Stakes) and the highly regarded maiden winner Huntdown. Bushranger raced down the centre of the wide, straight course, tracking the leader Sayil whilst most of the other runners raced on the far side (the right hand side from the jockeys' viewpoint). He overtook Sayil inside the final furlong and stayed on to win by one and a quarter lengths with a gap of two and a half lengths back to Huntdown in third.[12] After the race Murtagh said "He's a grand little horse and I'm learning a lot about him. He's a strong two-year-old who's very professional and just keeps on winning."[13]

On his final race of the year Bushranger was sent to California for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park and was made the 5.5/1 fourth choice in the betting. Drawn on the outside he was forced to race wide throughout the race and finished eleventh of the twelve runners. The only horse who finished behind him was the subsequent Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.[14]

In 2009 Bushranger was matched against older horses in major sprint races but made little impact in three starts. On his seasonal debut he contested the Greenlands Stakes over six furlongs at the Curragh and finished fourth behind the five-year-old gelding Utmost Respect. In his two remaining races Bushranger failed to reach the frame in British Group One races, finishing eleventh behind Art Connoisseur in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and ninth to Regal Parade in the Haydock Sprint Cup on 5 September.[15]