Pinatubo’s lightly raced four-year-old son Saddadd took his first attempt at Group company in his stride with success in the 10-furlong G3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown Park. The Roger Varian-trained colt settled towards the rear before making his challenge, ultimately running clear of King Of Cities (Dubawi) by one and three-quarter lengths. He holds entries in two G1 races this season, namely the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Coronation Cup.
Bred by Godolphin, the promising and incredibly consistent horse has never finished out of the top three. He is out of the Listed-winning mare Talmada (Cape Cross), making Saddadd a half-brother to the highly regarded Almaqam, who also ran in the Gordon Richards Stakes last year, placing third before later fulfilling the same position in the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot. Talmada has a two-year-old filly by Dubawi and yearling filly by Pinatubo.
This is Pinatubo’s third Stakes victory of the year, with Komorebi’s race record-breaking success in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau the highlight so far. Andre Fabre's charge is set to contest the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp in early May. Pinatubo stands at Dalham Hall Stud for a fee of £17,500 (Oct 1, SLF).
