Pinatubo has stormed to the head of the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt category in this year’s Cartier Racing Awards following his determined victory in the Gr1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes.
The Godolphin homebred took his winning record to six wins in as many starts as he gamely beat Arizona by two lengths on soft ground in the highlight on day two of Newmarket’s Dubai Future Champions Festival on October 12.
The outstanding Shamardal colt Pinatubo (Pic – Godolphin)
Pinatubo, trained by Charlie Appleby, has now accrued 80 points and posted the highest-rated two-year-old performance in 25 years when scoring by nine lengths in the Gr1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland, in September.
Remarkably, his closest rival in the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt standings is another unbeaten son of Shamardal bred and owned by Godolphin, Earthlight (72).
Andre Fabre’s charge has himself gained two Gr1 victories, most recently when scoring by a neck in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 28.
Dubai Future Champions Festival also saw Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly contender Quadrilateral (32) maintain her unbeaten record with victory in the Gr1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile.
The Roger Charlton-trained daughter of Frankel, who races in the colours of her breeder Khalid Abdullah, swooped late to deny Powerful Breeze (32) by a head, with Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes scorer Love (48) finishing third.
Ascot hosts QIPCO British Champions Day on October 19 and the fixture, which offers more than £4-million in prize money, could play a pivotal role in deciding the winners for this year’s Cartier Racing Awards.
Magical (168), pictured above, currently heads both the Cartier Horse Of The Year and Cartier Older Horse standings.
The Coolmore filly has a choice of engagements at Ascot, with Gr1 entries in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By QIPCO) and the QIPCO Champion Stakes.
Her trainer Aidan O’Brien is also set to be represented on the card by Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly leader Hermosa (112), who holds the same entries as Magical.
Anapurna (80) and Star Catcher (80) could also enhance their Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly claims with victory in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.
Stradivarius (128), trained by John Gosden, has dominated the Cartier Stayer standings throughout the season and Bjorn Nielsen’s star will be aiming for an 11th consecutive victory in the Gr2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.
Victory in the two-mile contest would also further his position in the race to be crowned Cartier Horse Of The Year.
Blue Point (106), pictured above, continues to hold a significant lead in the Cartier Stayer category thanks to his superb pair of Royal Ascot wins in June but Advertise (80) could lay down a strong challenge with victory in the Gr1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint.
Hello Youmzain (56) and So Perfect (48) also remain engaged in the six-furlong contest.
Harry Herbert, Cartier’s Racing Consultant, commented: “Pinatubo completed a brilliant season with his hard-fought success at Newmarket and Godolphin looks to have a formidable hand in the Cartier Two-Year-Old category, with Earthlight also in the mix.
“It is truly remarkable for one owner to have two homebred juveniles, both by the same stallion, who have recorded two Gr1 victories each during unbeaten campaigns, let alone in the same season.
“QIPCO British Champions Day has firmly established itself as an integral part of the calendar and we are looking forward to seeing a host of stars running on the finale to the British season, with plenty of chances for horses to further their Cartier Racing Awards aspirations.
Cartier Racing Awards – points earned in Pattern races up to and including Sunday, October 13, 2019
Cartier Horse Of The Year
Magical 168
Enable 152
Stradivarius 128
Waldgeist 120
Crystal Ocean 112
Hermosa 112
Too Darn Hot 112
Japan 108
Blue Point 106
Circus Maximus 88
Cartier Older Horse
Magical 168
Enable 152
Stradivarius 128
Waldgeist 120
Crystal Ocean 112
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
Too Darn Hot 112
Japan 108
Circus Maximus 88
Advertise 80
Anthony Van Dyck 76
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
Hermosa 112
Anapurna 80
Star Catcher 80
Iridessa 74
Fleeting 52
Cartier Sprinter
Blue Point 106
Advertise 80
Battaash 80
Hello Youmzain 56
So Perfect 48
Cartier Stayer
Stradivarius 128
Dee Ex Bee 72
Logician 48
Enbihaar 44
Holdthasigreen 40
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt
Pinatubo 80
Earthlight 72
A’Ali 48
Armory 48
Siskin 48
Threat 48
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly
Raffle Prize 64
Albigna 48
Daahyeh 48
Love 48
Millisle 36
