By Emma Berry
LONDON, UK—Godolphin's homebred Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) was officially named Europe's champion juvenile of 2019 on Wednesday when given the highest rating for a 2-year-old in 25 years. In fact, it was a clean sweep for Godolphin and Kildangan Stud-based sire Shamardal, who were also responsible for the joint runners-up in the category, Victor Ludorum (Ire) and Earthlight (Ire).
The magic number for Pintaubo—also awarded to Enable (GB), Crystal Ocean (GB) and Waldgeist (GB) when topping the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings—was 128. One has to look back as far as 1994 and 1991 to find a higher rating, when Celtic Swing and Arazi were respectively given marks of 130. Pinatubo, trained by Charlie Appleby, started his unbeaten six-race stretch in a low-key manner at Wolverhampton on May 10 and it culminated with victory in the G1 Darley Dewhurst S.
Graeme Smith, lead 2-year-old handicapper for the British Horseracing Authority, said, “Pinatubo looked a potentially outstanding 2-year-old when thrashing a competitive field in the Vintage Stakes and his next performance in the National Stakes was breathtaking—the kind you rarely see in top company—as he powered nine lengths clear of Armory and Arizona in a top-class time. This was one of the great 2-year-old performances, and the best by any 2-year-old in the last 25 years.”
Of the juvenile fillies of 2019, the Jessica Harrington-trained Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was given the highest rating of 115. She won three of her five starts last season for her owner-breeder Stonethorn Farms Ltd, including the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S.
“Millisle's position at the top of the 2-year-old filly rankings is a fitting finale to a juvenile season that can only be described as sensational for handler Jessica Harrington, who trained an amazing 21 individual 2-year-old fillies to success in 2019,” said Mark Bird, handicapper for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.
“Millisle's victory at Newmarket, when she defeated three Group 2 and two Group 3 winners, was the most substantive piece of form produced by any 2-year-old filly in Europe in 2019. She deservedly emerges as champion in the division following in the footsteps of a long list of fillies, including Marling, Queen's Logic, Tiggy Wiggy and Clemmie, who were all crowned Champion 2-year-old filly after winning this race.”
Forty juveniles in Europe received a rating of 110 or higher, the joint-lowest total in recent years.
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