Star performer of the Flat racing season: Pinatubo

It has been a hugely exciting flat season that is now drawing to a close. There has been a number of impressive performers but none more than the Charlie Appleby trained two year old Pinatubo. He heads into the upcoming Darley Dewhurst Stakes looking to cap off a faultless two year old campaign. He has been very well supported for this race with punters using the latest Betrivers online promos. This sees him has short as 1/3 to maintain his unbeaten record at his local track.

 

Connections have been as surprised as the racing public with the horse as he has never shown much at home. This is possibly why he made his debut on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. He was clearly not hugely fancied as he was sent off at odds of 3/1 and wearing the owners second silks. Despite this, he quickened up well to lead 1/2 a furlong out and was pushed clear to win by just over three lengths.

 

Pinatubo then contested the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on his second start. He was sent off the evens favourite and appeared to really struggle with the undulations of the track. He hung left but was able to pick them up and win convincingly by just over a length.

 

This impressive victory meant a step up to listed class, as he contested the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. This saw the horse produce a breath taking display as following being pushed along, he ran on very strongly to draw clear to win by just over three lengths from favourite Lope Y Fernandez. He maintained his unbeaten record, whilst also breaking the juvenile track record in the process. This was the first key indication that Godolphin have another very exciting horse on their hands.

How emphatic was this? Pinatubo broke the juvenile track record at @Ascot earlier on his way to Chesham Stakes glory 🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/GmDbGyjGhu

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 22, 2019

Following this hugely impressive display, he was sent off the short priced favourite to land his first start in a Group Two. This was in the Qatar Vintage Stakes, which was a stacked field that included a rematch with Lope Y Fernandez. This resulted in another eye catching display as he powered clear to win by five lengths from the Clive Cox trained Positive.

 

Pinatubo’s reputation continued to build following this victory and he was then sent to Ireland to contest the Group One Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. This meant he would take on a host of exciting horses trained by Aiden O’Brien. Despite this, he was sent off at 1/3 and produced his lifetime best performance to date. Pinatubo travelled ominously well throughout the contest, taking up the running from two out and powering clear. This was a breath taking performance as he won by 9 lengths and posted an RPR of 128.

 

Five runs Five wins A very special racehorse The opposition aren’t even in shot as Pinatubo storms clear to win the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes for @godolphin Charlie Appleby and William Buick#LICW19@curraghracepic.twitter.com/BBFV0EaT0X — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 15, 2019

That figure meaning he is now higher rated than Frankel was at the end of his two year old campaign. The question is can Pinatubo now build on this further in the Dewhurst as he is already the short priced favourite for next year’s Guineas.