Pinatubo Gets His Chance to Join Frankel's Class

Judgment day has finally arrived. It's been an agonizingly long wait for those ready to hail Pinatubo as the best horse seen on a racecourse since Frankel.

Unbeaten in six starts as a 2-year-old, Pinatubo goes into the June 6 QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1), a race Frankel took by six memorable lengths in 2011, as the odds-on favorite to terminate 14 rivals and join him on the Newmarket classic's illustrious roll of honor.

Frankel, who started as the 1-2 market leader, landed his previous five starts, including two by double-figure margins.

Pinatubo, expertly handled by trainer Charlie Appleby during a juvenile season in which he landed two group 1s, also demonstrated his awesome superiority in a Frankelesque manner by slamming Armory (IRE) by nine lengths in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) at the Curragh.

There are clear similarities between the pair, but the most striking difference comes in terms of overall perception by the racing public.

Those who doubted Frankel would land the Guineas nine years ago were in an overwhelming minority, but there are seemingly plenty prepared for the Pinatubo bubble to burst on the Rowley Mile.

While both colts had an unmistakable aura about them during their 2-year-old days, as a physical specimen Frankel always looked destined to train on into an even better performer at 3.

Some paddock critics have pointed out that Pinatubo, who made his debut at Wolverhampton as early as last May, lacks that same sort of scope, even though Appleby stresses the son of Shamardal has excelled physically over the winter.

The million-dollar question is whether Pinatubo can reproduce—or even improve on—that precocious ability that saw him round off a magnificent season of relentless high achievement with victory in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1), a race Frankel also won.

Frankel blew his Guineas field apart with the sort of performance only a select few can ever produce.

Pinatubo will also need to put significant daylight between himself and his opponents if he is to be spoken of in the same breath. Reports suggest the colt is in the best possible shape to do so.

Not all champion 2-year-olds, however, go on to match those achievements the following year, and if Pinatubo does blow out, there is one familiar name who will be in the wings ready to take advantage.

Aidan O'Brien's achievements in this race are the stuff of legend. With 10 wins in the classic, including four in the past five years, he would normally be the go-to trainer for punters who harbor any doubts about Pinatubo. It might be different this time.

Arizona looks the Ballydoyle No. 1 from four raiders, but the son of No Nay Never was trounced by Pinatubo in both the Dewhurst and National Stakes, beaten an aggregate of over 11 lengths.

Perhaps it's best to search elsewhere this time, and the vibes about Vertem Futurity (G1) winner Kameko, the mount of champion jockey Oisin Murphy, are hard to ignore.

Just the type to improve at 3, Kameko annihilated his Newcastle rivals up the hill in November.

He's by no means as flashy as Pinatubo but looks likely to stay much farther than a mile and has the tactical pace to lie handy. If he got first run on the favorite, things could be very interesting indeed.

In racing, there is a constant obsession to find the next superstar. It may or may not be Pinatubo. 

Race fans, starved of action for 76 days during the coronavirus crisis, have waited a long time for a day like this.

The Two Thousand Guineas is always a race to savor. This year, run on the first Saturday since racing's resumption and with a potential wonder colt in the lineup, it promises to be even more special.