Pinatubo Rated Higher Than Frankel

Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) has been given an official rating of 128 by British Horseracing Authority handicapper Graeme Smith, putting him ahead of Frankel (GB) at the same stage of that unbeaten champion's career. Frankel ended his juvenile campaign in 2010 as joint-top 2-year-old with Dream Ahead at 126.

“You've got to be very impressed with what he has done so far, haven't you?” Smith said. “We're not saying he's a better horse than Frankel, but so far he has achieved more as a 2-year-old than Frankel did. Frankel went on to achieve a rating of 136 as a 3-year-old, and 140 as a 4-year-old in 2012, so Pinatubo has still got a lot of improving to do to become the horse Frankel was.”

Also reaching a mark of 126 as a 2-year-old in 2007 was New Approach (Ire), while a decade earlier Xaar (GB) had reached 127. Pinatubo is the highest-rated 2-year-old since Celtic Swing (GB) with a mark of 130 in 1994.

“Pinatubo is the highest-rated 2-year-old since Celtic Swing, who was rated 130 after winning the Racing Post Trophy by 12 lengths in 1994, with the runner-up Annus Mirabilis having previously won the Somerville Tattersalls S.,” Smith said. “Another horse you can compare him to is Xaar–rated 127 after winning the Dewhurst by seven lengths from Tamarisk, who had previously won a maiden and a couple of conditions races.

“In my opinion, Pinatubo has achieved more than Xaar but not quite as much as Celtic Swing, although 128 is his current rating and not his end-of-season rating.”

Pinatubo could have one more outing this season in the G1 Dewhurst S. on Oct. 12.

“The more you look through his form, the better it looks, and it's backed up by very good times,” said Smith. “The clock doesn't usually lie, but it's nice to see him winning in good times by five lengths and nine lengths, as he has on his last couple of starts. On the clock alone, you could rate him in the mid-130s.

“We'll see what turns up to take him on in the Dewhurst. It could be that those who might be able to give him a proper examination might duck him to try to win a Group 1 elsewhere, but we'll see.”