Darley’s much missed sire Shamardal, who died earlier this year, delivered four stakes-winners in Europe on Sunday headed by his champion colt Pinatubo, who returned to top form in the Group I Prix Jean Prat (1400m) at Deauville.
Undefeated at two when he won six consecutive races to be the Champion 2YO Colt of 2019, the Charlie Appleby trained Pinatubo has been beaten at his first two runs this year in the Two Thousand Guineas and at Royal Ascot, but bounced back here over the shorter trip of seven furlongs.
He settled back in the field and finished off strongly for William Buick to win by three quarters of a length.
A homebred for Godolphin, Pinatubo is the best of two winners from stakes-winning Dalakhani mare Lava Flow, whose grand-dam El Jazirah is a full sister to Group I winner Rafha, the dam of Invincible Spirit. The same family also produced this year’s Group I Prix du Jockey Club winner Mishriff.
Pinatubo was one of four stakes-winners on Sunday joining Earthlight, Royal Crusade and Half Light.
Darley are sending Shamardal’s champion sprinting son Blue Point (IRE) to the Hunter Valley this spring at a fee of $44,000.
