Vintage Stakes: Pinatubo out to preserve unbeaten record for Charlie Appleby

2.25 Goodwood
Qatar Vintage Stakes | Group 2 | 7f | 2yo | ITV/RTV

Last Saturday Summer Romance lost her unbeaten record and position at the head of the ante-post market for the 1,000 Guineas.

While the filly can be given another chance after a troubled passage at Ascot, trainer Charlie Appleby will be hoping history does not repeat itself with Pinatubo.

Following a dominant performance in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, Pinatubo heads the betting for the 2020 Qipco 2,000 Guineas and is bidding to extend his unbeaten record to four.

The son of Shamardal has gone from strength to strength with each racecourse outing, and Appleby is confident of further progress on Tuesday.

"Pinatubo is in great form at home and brings experience to the table," the trainer said. "He came out of the Chesham well and the Vintage Stakes has always been the plan.

"I feel he is the horse to beat at Goodwood, even though I respect the opposition."

His rivals include Platinum Star, who finished runner-up to Pinatubo when the pair made their respective debuts at Wolverhampton in May.

Also owned by Godolphin, Platinum Star is in the care of Saeed bin Suroor, who said: "Platinum Star is doing good – he is a tough colt.

"I think moving up to seven furlongs is going to suit him. He worked very well on Saturday and I'm looking forward to a good performance."

Can Visinari emerge victorious for Johnston?

Mark Johnston won this race last year with Dark Vision, and this time runs Visinari.

The strapping grey created a big impression on his debut at Newmarket with a three-and-a-half-length win that also left clock-watchers salivating.

He backed that up with a narrow third in the July Stakes back at Newmarket, and now steps up in trip, a move which looks likely to suit.

Charlie Johnston, son and assistant to his father, said: "It's probably the best two-year-old race we've seen this year. We're hopeful he'll improve from Newmarket from a combination of the step up in trip and, more than anything, the experience of being in a top-flight race like that.

"He learnt a lot more that day than he did first time out. Hopefully he'll be a bit more streetwise."

Will Mystery Power be another hero for the Hannons?

Richard Hannon snr won this race five times including with Don't Forget Me, who went on to complete the British and Irish 2,000 Guineas double in 1987.

Richard Hannon has the chance to claim the race for a first time with Mystery Power, who is unbeaten in two starts most recently at Newmarket in the Superlative Stakes.

The King Power Racing-owned colt must concede 3lb to the field, but may be equal to the task, as Hannon said: "I don't see the penalty being a problem, and he worked really well on Saturday. The trip and track should be fine and I think he should be in the mix."

Is Lope Y Fernandez able to turn the tables on Pinatubo?

Aidan O'Brien last won this race in 2016 with War Decree, and this time relies on Lope Y Fernandez.

The son of Lope De Vega was runner-up to Pinatubo at Royal Ascot, so has more than three lengths to find to turn around the form, and O'Brien said: "We've been happy with him since Ascot and he seems in good form. We're looking forward to getting him out again."

Where does Positive fit into the mix?

With only a debut victory at Salisbury under his belt, Positive is the least experienced runner in the seven-strong field, but that
five-length success marked him out as a potentially smart sort.

Trainer Clive Cox has faith the son of Dutch Art can handle a marked rise in grade, and said: "I couldn't have been more pleased with his debut.

"He's taking a big step up in class but I'm comfortable with that step and hopefully he'll equip himself well."

Completing the field is the Mick Channon-trained Milltown Star, who has won his last two starts in minor events at Salisbury and Wolverhampton.

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