Champion two-year-old Pinatubo is not going to lie down and feel sorry for himself as connections eye a tilt at the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot after defeat in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.
Touted to be the next Frankel by many, he had to win the Guineas in impressive fashion to be mentioned in the same breath as the legend himself but it wasn’t to be as Kameko ran out a winner for Oisín Murphy and Andrew Balding.
There is no doubt that he probably does stay a mile, after-all finishing third in a Guineas isn’t exactly a terrible run. However, he didn’t travel with the same zest as he did last year and he didn’t seem to get home comfortably when asked to extend.
There is of course the slight possibility that Pinatubo has filled out his frame from two to three-years-old and as a consequence he potentially lost some of his speed and might want further than a mile.
Only time will tell what the answer is but it is interesting that Charlie Appleby is keeping him at a mile for Royal Ascot.
Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “Pinatubo travelled well into the race when he had Frankie’s horse [Wichita] as his target but when he made his move he got up to their girths and just didn’t go any further forward. Obviously I’m disappointed as it’s the first time he’s been beaten but at least he hasn’t fallen out the back of the telly.
“He’s had a normal blow after. The first impression would be to take him to the St James’s Palace Stakes but we’ll speak to connections when we get him home. If he’s okay physically there’s no reason why we can’t turn him around for Ascot as it’s a meeting everyone likes and hopefully owners will be able to go by then.”
“On reflection it could be that he’s put up a decent performance against two good colts in what looked a strong Guineas and it was nice to see Saeed’s horse Military March finish fourth and run a nice trial for the Derby.”