Pinatubo Remains Unbeaten With Dewhurst Score

Quiet and unassuming off the track but devastating on it, Pinatubo finished his juvenile campaign the way he started with victory in the Oct. 12 Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1).

The 2-year-old ended 2019 with a 6-for-6 record, and his connections hope he'll be the one they all have to beat in next year's QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1).

Those hoping for a replica of his nine-length demolition job at the Curragh in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) were disappointed by a more mundane two-length victory, but the colt's latest success was just as impressive for different reasons.

Pinatubo may be named after an active volcano, but to watch him in the parade ring, he is dormant. The son of Shamardal would be difficult to pick out in a crowd, but when the lights go up, he erupts.

"You can't get excited about him in the mornings," trainer Charlie Appleby said. "He just goes about his business. In the preliminaries, he was just sauntering around, and I said to Will (Buick), 'You'd think he was an old horse walking around in a handicap.' He doesn't exactly fill you full of confidence coming into group 1s, but as long as he keeps turning up in the afternoons, I'm not too worried what he does in the mornings."

He may be laconic at home, and all the way up to the point when the stalls open, but once the race is on, the switch is flicked and Pinatubo exudes controlled aggression.

Having traveled behind the leaders, at the two-furlong pole Pinatubo suddenly loomed up on the hind quarters of Arizona. It was not blink-and-miss-it speed. Rather, he sidled up to the leader efficiently and poised to strike.

Arizona, who finished over nine lengths behind Pinatubo at the Curragh, kept the winner honest, and for a stride or two stood firm as the 1-3 favorite began his attack.

But inside the final furlong, Pinatubo asserted. He was never stronger than at the line, pulling away to prove there is a tough core to complement the exciting pace displayed on previous outings.

"He's a special horse," Appleby said. "He showed great courage and had to dig deep. Will gave him a fantastic ride, and once it came to the fight, he wasn't going to lie down. People had asked why we were running again and were we taking a big risk with a horse who had already had five runs.

"I want someone with experience who's been there, and he's been there when it comes to a dogfight. He's been up hill and down dale and has brought a wealth of experience to the table as well as an engine."

In the wake of Enable's failed Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) bid, flat racing may need a leading light if she is retired. For the moment, that is Pinatubo, and Appleby acknowledged the horse's importance to a wider audience.

"It's great for the public," the trainer said. "We all saw last weekend what it meant with Enable, and unfortunately results like that can happen. Sometimes when you are in this industry, you don't realize what it means to the public. We are all behind this horse, and thankfully he has gone and kept the dream alive for the winter."

Pinatubo's performance was the perfect end to a spectacular week for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin. Some epic multi-million-pound sales-ring scraps down the road at Tattersalls between Godolphin and racing's other superpower, Coolmore, mostly went in the former's favor, and those results carried over to the feature race of the future Champions meeting.

Sheikh Mohammed, who gave a little dance of delight on the winner's rostrum, said: "When you win like that and show so much courage, it's very pleasing. I have seen him many times, and we all love him. Every year you have a favorite horse, and we hope we can find one like him again next year.

"He is a very good horse who will go on to produce good horses. The Shamardals are very fast. I will be looking forward to seeing him next year."

Arizona's trainer, Aidan O'Brien, was magnanimous in defeat, making sure to shake the hands of his conquerors. As well as the runner-up, O'Brien also saddled the third, Wichita, and said of the pair: "Arizona and Wichita have run well, but I don't think they were in love with the soft ground.

"Hopefully, they are back here for the Two Thousand Guineas next year as we are hopeful they'll get a mile. Take nothing away from the winner, and hopefully we can take him on again next year."

All things being equal, Pinatubo will be ready for the fight again.