TUBO POWERED
FRANKEL’S benchmark for greatness has been surpassed by Pinatubo – in the opinion of British Horseracing Authority’s handicapper Graeme Smith.
Following his nine-length victory in the National Stakes at the Curragh 10 days ago, Smith has given Pinatubo a rating of 128 – 2lb higher than Frankel achieved when a two-year-old in 2010.
Now unbeaten in five races, Pinatubo will finish the season on an even higher mark if he triumphs in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 12.
“You’ve got to be very impressed with what he has done so far,” said Smith. “We’re not saying he’s a better horse than Frankel but so far he has achieved more as a two-year-old than Frankel.
“Frankel went on to achieve a rating of 136 as a three-year-old, and 140 as a four-year-old in 2012, so Pinatubo has still got a lot of improving to do to become the horse Frankel was.”
The last two-year-old to be rated higher than Pinatubo was Celtic Swing, with a mark of 130 in 1994.
Pinatubo not surprisingly heads the betting for the Dewhurst at 4-11 and is 5-4 for next year’s 2,000 Guineas – both races were won by Frankel in spectacular fashion – but whether he is able to further increase his rating remains to be seen.
“The more you look through his form, the better it looks, and it’s backed up by very good times,” added Smith.
“The clock doesn’t usually lie – but it’s nice to see him winning in good times by five lengths and nine lengths, as he has on his last couple of starts.
“On the clock alone, you could rate him in the mid-130s.
“We’ll see what turns up to take him on in the Dewhurst.
“It could be that those who might be able to give him a proper examination might duck him to try to win a Group One elsewhere, but we’ll see.”
Paddy Power report that Majestic Dawn is proving popular for Saturday’s Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.
The Paul Cole-trained colt is now 14-1 from 20-1 and will be partnered by the 2017 champion apprentice David Egan.