Pinatubo - How Good Is He?

Mark Smith - Monday September 16

When Pinatubo disappeared into the distance for a nine length win in Sunday's Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh, the two-year-old son of Shamardal (USA) ran the seven furlongs in a time that was a full 2.5 seconds faster than it took the Galileo filly Love to win the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes just one race earlier.

Nothing has come close to Pinatubo in five starts. And it's not like he is beating up on no-hopers.

Second-placed Armoury had won his last three starts including a Group II and a Group III.

Advertisement

Third-placed Arizona was an impressive winner of the Group II Coventry Stakes at Ascot and the horse he beat there, Threat, came out to win the Group II Gimcrack Stakes at York and the Group II Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. 


Pinatubo looks the part. A lovely rich bay with a long flowing stride, the Godolphin homebred is as short as 4/5 with some bookmakers for the 2000 Guineas.

Winning trainer Charlie Appleby revealed that Pinatubo looks a long way off a top horse in his trackwork.

"He's a trainer's dream once you get to know him, because he doesn't excite you in the morning to say the least. We started his career off at Wolverhampton for a reason, as we didn't really know he was in the yard," Appleby told Sporting Life.

"He's done nothing but improve with each run. James (Doyle) said he didn't really travel in the first half of the race at Goodwood, and I said to William (Buick) this morning, 'don't panic if this horse isn't travelling with you early, as at home he won't pick the bridle up'.

"He's the best horse I've ever had as a two-year-old, there's no doubt about it. He's exciting and it's great for the team.

"As soon as William gave him a squeeze he soon came back on the bridle and from two down I couldn't see him getting beat. It's not often you can say that at this level.

"I gave him a gallop midweek with some of the nicer two-year-olds trying to give myself a bit of confidence and I probably did the reverse, as Royal Crusade (Champagne Stakes runner-up) put him in his place.

"He just goes through the motions and the jockey gets off and says he's moving well. He goes home and eats, drinks, sleeps and that's the end of it. We only ever see the best of him when he turns up at the track, which is a nice position to be in.

"The way he's developing as an individual over the last six week has been noticeable. People were questioning whether he would just be a two-year-old, but he's got a nice walk and presence about him. He's a very exciting horse.

"I'll have to discuss things with Sheikh Mohammed, but the way he's won there I don't see any reason why he couldn't run in the Dewhurst (at Newmarket on October 12)."

Pinatubo's stakes-winning dam Lava Flow, a daughter of former Cornerstone Stud shuttler Dalakhani, is a half-sister to the Group 1 Gran Criterium runner-up Strobilus (Mark of Esteem) from the family of Pride Of Dubai and Invincible Spirit.

Shamardal (USA) struck for a second time at the Curragh on Sunday when his 3yo daughter Tarnawa captured the Group II Blandford Stakes for The Aga Khan and Dermot Weld.

Five season shuttler Shamardal (USA) takes his Group 1 tally to 21 and he recently featured as the sire of the dam of Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Hello Youmzain.

His Australian progeny includes the Champion Hong Kong miler Able Friend and Epsom Handicap winner Captain Sonador, the Group 1 Darley Classic winner Delectation and the VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume.

Shamardal's son Lope de Vega (IRE) has been a huge success in both hemispheres while Swettenham Stud's Puissance De Lune (IRE) has had only a handful of runners but they all seem to have ability.

Godolphin's recently retired champion sprinter Blue Point could be a safe bet to represent Shamardal (USA) in Australia next year. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Unique Filly a History Maker for Godolphin and Waller
The re-distribution of the Godolphin owned Australian racehorses has been a hot topic in recent weeks as they departed the care of James Cummings to join a wide spread of different trainers and one of those was Chris Waller, whose first runner for the blue army was a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
Winning Hat-Trick for Progressive Pierro
Richard and Will Freedman probably have more talented horses in the stable than Pierro gelding Cold Brew, but few have the consistency of this four year-old who landed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.
Red-Letter Day for Shamardal as Blue Point Completes Historic Double
There would be plenty of breeders in Australia that would relish another chance with the father and son combination of Shamardal (USA) and Lope De Vega (IRE) who started the final day of Royal Ascot when the father sired the winner of the Chesham Stakes, Pinatubo, at the expense of his son’s better fancied Lope Y Fernandez.
Dual Group Winner Too Darn Good At Flemington
A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Shamardal's Blue Point is the Real Deal
No luck for the Aussies Viddora, Brave Smash (JPN) and Illustrious Lad in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Saturday night but the winner Blue Point is top-class and wouldn’t be out of place in The Everest.
Lonhro's Sister Produces Promising Colt in Europe
Making a late-season debut under James Doyle in a Novice Stakes over 7-furlongs on the all-weather at Kempton on Wednesday, the Charlie Appleby-trained Zakouski showed he is a colt with a future when defeating Khalid Abdullah’s Kingman colt Headman by two lengths.
Kosciuszko calling Rosehill winner Elson Boy
Dubbo-trained Elson Boy was back in the winner’s circle after a 412-day absence when leading throughout to land the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill in the hands of apprentice William Stanley.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Sliding Doors Moment Delivers Feel Good Winner at Rosehill
Two fillies were born at Yulong in 2021 sired by Alabama Express from imported North American daughters of Street Cry, one of them is triple Group I winner Treasurethe Moment and the other is the feel good winner of the day at Rosehill on Saturday.
Crossbow Takes Aim At Flemington To Score
With quality efforts behind handy horses in his first three starts, trainer Chris Waller crossed the border to Victoria with instant success for the Star Thoroughbreds raced Crossbow, with the well-marked son of Better Than Ready breaking through for an impressive win.