By Tom Frary
There were some doubts about whether Godolphin's Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) could maintain his unbeaten run in Tuesday's G2 Qatar Vintage S. after the rain, but the answer was as conclusive as it gets as he surged to a five-length success in the Goodwood murk. Having put TDN Rising Star Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in his place when winning Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S. June 22 by 3 1/4 lengths, the homebred tracked the leading trio under James Doyle, took control approaching the two-furlong pole and sprinted clear of Positive (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). Lope Y Fernandez and fellow TDN Rising Star Visinari (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) were well beaten in third and fourth, a further five lengths and 3 1/2 lengths away in what could turn out to be a juvenile championship-defining performance. “That was pretty spectacular,” Doyle said. “They didn't go that quick, so he surprised me how well he got into a rhythm and how well he settled. I popped him out ready for when they quickened and he just took off. He is horizontal and you wouldn't notice him at home, but he lights up on raceday. He's pretty special.”
Introduced over six furlongs at Wolverhampton May 10, Pinatubo had swamped Platinum Star (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) with now-customary finishing burst before taking Epsom's Woodcote S. May 31 and moving up a gear in the Chesham. Going through the season at the major meetings like one of the old-fashioned juvenile stars, he is off to Ireland now according to Charlie Appleby. “He is a true professional, he jumped and travelled well, got into a lovely rhythm and galloped out strongly to the line,” his trainer said. “I said to James that there is stamina on the dam's side and he had won over a stiff seven at Ascot so to keep it simple and keep pushing forward on him. I'll speak to Sheikh Mohammed, but it will probably be the [G1 Vincent O'Brien] National Stakes [at The Curragh Sept. 15] now.”
Talk of the 2020 2000 Guineas was inevitable afterwards and he was trading as short as 9-4 for the Classic. James Doyle is convinced he has the ability to extend his influence as he goes up in trip into a new season. “He has a great nature and he's quick–he really drops down and accelerates–and were interested to see how he coped with the bit of ease. It didn't stop him,” he said. “He is fast, but he does keep going and we still didn't get to the bottom of him there. I'm sure he'll see out the mile no problem and he's got that turn of pace a good horse should possess. He's not tall, but he's quite long and has got scope and range about him. He's never really shown up that much at home, but he's a proper horse.”
Clive Cox was delighted with the performance of Alan Spence's impressive Salisbury maiden winner Positive, who beat some top-class prospects with authority despite meeting a rival out of the ordinary. “The winner has won nicely and he is a serious horse to be respected, so I'm very pleased with our fellow and this is the start of his journey,” he said. “It was a big step from Salisbury to here and he has taken that step well. I think we have good reason to be excited about the future. It was a quality performance, it justifies our thoughts and he has confirmed how good we thought he might be.”
Pinatubo should easily stay eight furlongs, as his dam Lava Flow (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) was a winner over 11 furlongs in the Listed Prix de la Seine and is a half-sister to the G1 Gran Criterium runner-up Strobilus (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}). The second dam Mount Elbrus (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) was also successful at listed level at 10 1/2 furlongs and is out of a half-sister to the G1 Prix de Diane heroine and outstanding producer Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}) of Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB) fame. Rafha's G3 Blandford S.-winning half-sister Chiang Mai (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) is herself the dam of the G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Chinese White (Ire) by Lava Flow's sire Dalakhani. Lava Flow's yearling filly is by Sea the Stars (Ire), while she also has a filly foal by Teofilo (Ire).
Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR VINTAGE S.-G2, £200,000, Goodwood, 7-30, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.03, gd.
1–PINATUBO (IRE), 127, 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 GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $256,921. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Positive (GB), 127, c, 2, Dutch Art (GB)–Osipova (GB), by Makfi (GB). (55,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-A D Spence; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Clive Cox. £43,000.
3–Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), 127, c, 2, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Black Dahlia (GB), by Dansili (GB). (€900,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,520.
Margins: 5, 5, 3HF. Odds: 1.50, 12.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Visinari (Fr), Platinum Star (Ire), Mystery Power (Ire), Milltown Star (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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