Pinatubo lands G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes

Outstanding son of Shamardal remains unbeaten in six starts with impressive victory on the Rowley Mile

Shamardal’s sensational two-year-old son Pinatubo has carried all before him this year and on Saturday, 12 October he passed his stiffest test yet with flying colours, winning the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

Settled in fourth under William Buick, Charlie Appleby’s charge was always travelling well and began to make headway approaching the two-furlong marker. Hard pressed by eventual second Arizona inside the final furlong, Pinatubo asserted himself brilliantly close to home, drawing clear to win by two lengths.

Pinatubo won by over three lengths on his debut back in May, before taking the Woodcote Stakes on Oaks day at Epsom. He then ran out the impressive winner of the Chesham at Royal Ascot, before trouncing the field by six lengths in the G2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. He was last seen demolishing the field by no fewer than nine lengths in the G1 National Stakes at the Curragh.

Pinatubo is one of two winners out of the Stakes-winning Dalakhani mare Lava Flow, who has a 2019 filly foal by Teofilo.

Shamardal is enjoying an outstanding year, helped in no small part by the star of Royal Ascot, Blue Point, who will stand alongside his sire at Kildangan Stud in 2020. Shamardal is also sire of fellow G1 winners Earthlight, Victor Ludorum and French 1,000 Guineas winner Castle Lady.