PIN YOUR HOPES ON CHARLIE’S STAR
PINATUBO looks primed to carry Godolphin’s colours to victory for a fourth time in the 2,000 Guineas this afternoon.
The Shamardal colt (left) enjoyed a stunning two-year-old campaign, winning all six of his starts, including two Group Ones in the Goffs Vincent O’brien National Stakes and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes.
He finished last year with a rating of 128, the highest mark awarded to a juvenile since Celtic Swing in 1994.
Trainer Charlie Appleby, who is aiming for his second Classic victory after Masar’s 2018 Derby win, reports that he couldn’t be any happier with his star three-year-old and that he doesn’t “foresee the mile being a problem” as Pinatubo goes further than seven furlongs for the first time.
He faces some very strong challengers as Aidan O’brien runs four in Arizona, Wichita, Royal Dornach and big outsider New World Tapestry.
Kameko, Kinross and Military
March are all others who look like they could be special, but it is impossible to see past the favourite here.
It will be absolutely fascinating to see what Pinatubo can achieve this season as he has the potential to be one of the greats.
ELARQAM has some very strong form to his name and if returning at the top of the game, he should be very difficult to beat in tomorrow’s Group 3 contest.
He defeated the classy Addeybb in a Group 2 at York last summer and didn’t finish far behind Japan and Crystal Ocean in the Juddmonte International Stakes over the same course and distance a few weeks later.
He was comfortably beaten in a Group 3 in his seasonal reappearance last year so backing him does come with an element of caution.