The 17-year-old stallion Shamardal (USA) is reserved for Godolphin mares only at this stage of his career, which is working out just fine for the Sheikh Mohammed run operation.
The superlatives had barely stopped flowing for the remarkable, undefeated 2yo Pinatubo when the Andre Fabre-trained Earthlight equalled Pinatubo's record of five consecutive wins in Saturday's Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Coming off a win in the Group 1 Prix Morny, Earthlight came from midfield under Mickael Barzalona by a neck from Golden Horde, with outsider Summer Sands taking third. (image Sporting Life).
Juddmonte's unbeaten Siskin was scratched out the barriers and the highly-touted Mums Tipple pulled up lame.
"It is just a matter of having the right horse, it is a difficult race to win. You need speed and experience, and this horse has both," Fabre told Sporting Life.
"I was very confident all the way, as he was travelling easily and I know he (Barzalona) still had something under the saddle, so I was confident.
"For sure (will get a mile), he could even go a bit further - with the pedigree. We'll prepare for the (2000) Guineas, see what happens - he is the right type, but he will go further, he will get a mile and a quarter.
"He will go back home, idle, eat well and sleep - he usually does. He is done for the season.
"We just felt it (six furlongs) was a bit sharp for him, but he has a lot of class and I was confident to be fair.
"I've had horses like Zafonic, who was a machine, but he is a different type.
"It will have to be discussed, obviously (taking on Pinatubo in the Guineas). Sheikh Mohammed is a sportsman and he wouldn't mind one running one against another, but we will see.
"It (coming to Newmarket) was not only for that (to get an experience of the track), but it's a nice race to win for a good two-year-old.
"He is
"He has won on all sorts of ground, so that doesn't seem to affect him, but Newmarket is always good.
"He would have a prep race for the Guineas, as he is
Earthlight not only shares the same sire as Pinatubo he has some of the same influences on his dam's side.
While Pinatubo is out of a Dalakhani mare who is out of a daughter of the Sadler's Wells stallion Barathea, Earthlight is out of a mare by Galileo's son New Approach out of a mare by Dalakhani's sire Darshaan.
Earthlight's dam Winter Moon placed in the Group 1 Newmarket Fillies' Mile and Group III Sweet Solera Stakes.
Winter Moon is a half-sister to Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud Stakes winner Mandaean (Manduro) and the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Wavering (Refuse To Bend) out of the Group II winner and Group 1-placed Summertime Legacy (Darshaan).
