Pinatubo shatters juvenile track record in Chesham romp

On what proved to be a fantastic day for Godolphin, Woodcote Stakes winner Pinatubo got the team off to the best possible start with a sparkling performance in the Chesham Stakes, winning at odds of 3-1 and smashing the two-year-old track record in the process.

Now three from three, the son of Shamardal was always going well and a furlong out the race turned into a battle of the sport's superpowers, with the Ballydoyle-trained Lope Y Fernandez responding well to pressure under Ryan Moore.

However, he was no match for Pinatubo, who showed an impressive turn of foot under James Doyle to stretch three-and-a-quarter lengths clear of the 5-4 favourite. Highland Chief, who was sent off 14-1, finished third for trainer Paul Cole.

The colt stopped the clock at 1min 25.73sec, beating the previous record of 1min 26.55sec which was set by Malabar in a July maiden in 2014.

All smiles in the winner's enclosure: Pinatubo with connectionsCredit: Edward Whitaker

The performance prompted Paddy Power to cut the colt to 10-1 for next year's 2,000 Guineas.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: "I felt that going up to seven furlongs was always going to suit him.

"Going forward, I think something like the Vintage would suit him. The undulations of Goodwood can catch some horses out, but he already has experience of Epsom. You need to be able to travel at Goodwood and that seems to be one of his attributes."

Doyle added: "We said at Epsom, he goes up and down the gallops and shows up nicely without setting the world alight. He's just got better and better."

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