By Tom Frary
Stepping up to seven furlongs after winning Epsom's Woodcote S. over six May 31, Godolphin's Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) relished the extra test to come out firmly on top in Saturday's Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot. Sent off the 3-1 second favourite, the bay was held up early by James Doyle and swooped on Ballydoyle's 5-4 favourite and TDN Rising Star Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) approaching the furlong pole and stayed on powerfully to score by 3 1/4 lengths.
Holding the distinction of being the only runner all week to break a track record, Pinatubo marked himself as a colt with a bright future as he readily accounted for Lope Y Fernandez. Impressive when beating fellow Godolphin representative and subsequent Listed Windsor Castle S. runner-up Platinum Star (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by 3 1/4 lengths on debut over six furlongs at Wolverhampton May 10, Pinatubo had handled Epsom's challenging terrain with aplomb when adding the Woodcote S. to his tally again over that trip May 31. Relishing this extra stamina test, he arrived from behind under James Doyle to swoop on Ballydoyle's much-vaunted favourite approaching the furlong pole and stayed on powerfully to put daylight between them. Hitting the line with vehemence, he smashed the two-year-old track record by nearly a second in a show of power rarely seen in this race.
“He's a horse who just goes up and down the gallop and shows up nicely in his work without setting the world alight,” jockey James Doyle said. “He's just got better and better. l was a little bit concerned about the form of the Epsom race, but he's a very smart horse who travelled like clearly the best and once I got a bit of room he quickened up very well. He's very straightforward and I'm sure up to a mile is well within his compass, but he's pretty sharp at the minute.”
Charlie Appleby had to endure some disappointments with his juveniles during the week, but Pinatubo put matters right and he was impressed. “He came here with the right credentials,” he said. “He surprised me when he won first time, but he learned plenty and went to Epsom and showed an impressive turn of foot that day. He is one of those lovely horses who does himself well, he goes out there and does his job and you wouldn't know he's in the string. Going forward, a race such as the [July 30 G2] Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwod would suit him–he has the experience around Epsom and the undulations at Goodwood can catch these juveniles out, but he seems like a very professional horse.”
Given his pedigree, it is perhaps surprising that Pinatubo was able to show such speed over six furlongs with his dam being the 11-furlong Listed Prix de la Seine winner Lava Flow (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). A half-sister to the G1 Gran Criterium runner-up Strobilus (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}), she hails from the family of the G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Chinese White (Ire) who is by Lava Flow's sire Dalakhani and the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}). Her influence on the bloodstock world is renowned, with the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero and leading sire Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert) heading her progeny list. Lava Flow's yearling filly is by Sea the Stars (Ire), while she also has a filly foal by Teofilo (Ire).
Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
CHESHAM S.-Listed, £90,000, Ascot, 6-22, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.73 (NTR), gd.
1–PINATUBO (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Lava Flow (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mount Elbrus (GB), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: El Jazirah (GB), by Kris (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $118,147.
2–Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), 129, c, 2, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Black Dahlia (GB), by Dansili (GB). (€900,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor. £19,350.
3–Highland Chief (Ire), 129, c, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)">Gleneagles (Ire)–Pink Symphony (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Mrs Fitri Hay. £9,684.
Margins: 3 1/4, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.00, 1.25, 14.00.
Also Ran: Sun Power (Fr), Harpocrates (Ire), Heaven Forfend (GB), Year of The Tiger (Ire), Rose of Kildare (Ire), United Front, Clay Regazzoni (GB), Zmile (GB), Montanari (GB), Ardenlee Star, Dramatic Sands (Ire). Scratched: Dark Kris (Ire), Joker On Jack, Mohican Heights (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
