BRILLIANT PIN IS BACK ON A HIGH

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PINATUBO made it thirdtime lucky this year when fending off Lope Y Fernandez to lift the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.

Charlie Appleby’s son of Shamardal, who numbered two Group 1s among six successes as a two-year-old, marked his return with a third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month before a second in Royal Ascot’s St James’s Palace Stakes two weeks later.

But, stepping back from a mile to seven furlongs, Will Buick’s mount (left) lived up to his status as the 1-2 favourite to secure a third top-level prize by three-quarters of a length.

“I came here today with plenty of confidence,” said Appleby. We knew dropping back to seven furlongs would be his bag.

“As William said afterwards, when you’re riding a horse like him everything just seems easy. The horse deserved that today, and I’m thrilled for him.”

The victory earned the colt a 5-2 quote for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 29. But Appleby warned: “We might be better giving him more time.”