Pinatubo

If there is one adjective that embodies everything about Shamardal, it would have to be 'class.' That magic yet highly elusive ingredient that separates a great Thoroughbred from the field has permeated every aspect of his being from the time his blue chip mating was planned, through to his own quartet of Group 1 successes on the racecourse and on to his sons and daughters, who made an immediate impact on the track with Classic winners in Europe and Australia in his first crop and whose dominance was emphasized last...

Dual French Classic winner and leading sire Shamardal (Giant's Causeway--Helsinki {GB}, by Machiavellian) has been euthanised at the age of 18 after dealing with "a range of health issues." Announcing the news on Thursday, Joe Osborne, managing director of Godolphin Ireland, paid tribute to Kildangan Stud's flagship stallion. "Shamardal embodied mental and physical toughness—as a racehorse and as a stallion," he said. "As the racing world has seen over the past 15 years, he passed those qualities on to his progeny. "He contended with a range of health issues over...

Charlie Appleby's champion juvenile Pinatubo (Ire) as well as Andre Fabre's Group 1 winners Earthlight (Ire) and Victor Ludorum (Ire), all sons of Shamardal campaigned by Godolphin, are among the 77 colts entered for the May 2 G1 2000 Guineas. Other Group 1 winners engaged include the Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy) and Phoenix S. winner Siskin (GB) (First Defence), while G2 Coventry S. winner and G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) is a high-class entry from the Aidan O'Brien yard. Champion 2-year-old filly Quadrilateral...

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...