“He's a Dewhurst winner over seven furlongs and a multiple group-race winner over that distance, so hopefully that won't inconvenience him,” the operation's European racing manager Barry Mahon. “Oisin is a top-class rider and I'm sure he can jump into any situation and swim rather than sink. He knows the horse and has ridden him plenty at home, so I'm sure he'll be fine.”

Meditating On The Opposition

Aidan O'Brien collected 12 months ago with Tenebrism (Caravaggio), who was dropping back in trip after failing to land a blow in the 1000 Guineas and Coronation, but Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) has something to find attempting the same feat having been disappointing handed the run of the race at Royal Ascot. While she was taking a backward step at the Royal meeting, Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was seen going the other way as he worked into third in the St James's Palace. Of the French, TDN Rising Star Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) has outside claims based on his latest success in the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac over this trip at his favoured ParisLongchamp but along with his course-and-distance G3 Prix Djebel conqueror Good Guess (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) has a class gap to bridge to get to the standard of the overseas contingent.

All Eyes On Beauvatier

Deauville's major August festival is on the horizon and the scrimmaging for leading domestic juvenile is well underway, so the performance of the unbeaten TDN Rising Star Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure will be closely scrutinised. Having beaten the wide-margin G3 Prix du Bois winner Ramatuelle (Justify) in a six-furlong conditions event at Saint-Cloud in May, Philippe Allaire's representative is up in trip for the third time in three starts as he tackles a seventh here. Laying in wait is The  Aga Khan's 6 1/2-furlong ParisLongchamp winner Zabiari (GB) who looks to continue the golden run of Wootton Bassett (GB).

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Classic Convergence

Unusually, the winners of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Pouliches meet here, having failed in their respective attempts following their May 15 ParisLongchamp Classic victories. In retrospect, the Poulains hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had an impossible task trying to ward off Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) from stall 13 in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly June 5 and he was arguably ridden too aggressively to overcome that compromising draw.

“He's very genuine and he's got a lot of natural pace,” Charlie Appleby said. “Hopefully it will be quick ground, which you can never be certain of in Deauville, but he's showing all the signs he was before the Guineas.” Best in the Pouliches, Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was only ninth in the Coronation but this seven could be more her metier and she looked strong over it when beating the subsequent G2 German 1000 Guineas winner Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G3 Prix Miesque at Chantilly in October.

New Opportunity

Sheila and John Lavery's 'TDN Rising Star' New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) has looked a cast-iron seven-furlong performer in two efforts at the top level over a mile, with his second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas May 21 and eighth in the June 14 G1 St James's Palace S. marked by moments of genuine threat. “I'm hoping it is not too close to Ascot, we've just been keeping him ticking over at home, so until we run him we won't know, but he's a very good traveller,” Sheila Lavery said. “I think seven will suit, he has such a high cruising speed. Ascot was a muddling race and I'm not overly sure whether he stayed the stiff mile.”

Also at Deauville, the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure over the same seven-furlong trip of the Jean Prat sees the 'TDN Rising Star' Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) bid to back up his eight-length debut success over six at Saint-Cloud May 17 racing in the Alain Jathiere silks for the first time.

Click here for the group fields.

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“I never lost faith in Pinatubo and Sheikh Mohammed gave us a lot of confidence this week, saying if we were happy then to go again, it’s no problem,” Charlie Appleby said. “He delivered this time. When you have been champion 2-year-old, to get beaten in the Guineas is hard to take and then he had the stiff mile at Ascot, but I wouldn’t take anything away from the horses that beat us on both occasions, they are good horses. We are proud of him and will probably give him a little rest now and talk to Sheikh Mohammed. He was a little far back early, but was travelling as nicely as you’d hope in such a top race and he has that turn of foot and kick. When he found the gap, he went through it very nicely.”

Very few juveniles are capable of turning it on as Pinatubo had in the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. at The Curragh in September and after he had confirmed his status as generation kingpin in the G1 Dewhurst S. the following month at Newmarket the world was his oyster. Whether the month’s delay to the 2000 Guineas cost such a set and mature colt will never be known, but when the die was re-cast at Royal Ascot a fortnight later he had reversed the form of that June 6 Classic with the runner-up Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) only to find Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) too strong at the finish.

Just as Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) had done last year, Pinatubo almost had to win here and he had every excuse for failing to come through. Bumped and hassled by Kenway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the early stages as Buick sought to get some daylight, he was helped by the strong tempo set by his stablemate Well of Wisdom (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who has class in his own right and looks the perfect pacemaker from here on. Working between rivals to subdue Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) approaching the last furlong, he had only Lope Y Fernandez to concern him from there with last week’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning jockey Ioritz Mendizabal getting a real tune out of the colt who had been behind Pinatubo when second in the Listed Chesham S. and third in the G2 Vintage S. last term.

Appleby is still learning about his stable star and said, “This is what we saw from Pinatubo as a two-year-old. He travels and then has that electric turn of foot. William said that he was sat last at halfway with not a lot of room but, before he knew it, he was up there on the bridle again. We have always felt that Pinatubo is a very courageous horse. Going back to a mile is something that we need to talk about. He does travel extremely well and has that acceleration. He is going to be one of those milers that you are going to have to ride with so much confidence and just hope that you get there.”

Lope Y Fernandez’s rider said, “We had a very good trip and he’s a nice horse who was just beaten by a superior one on the day, so I have no excuses really. I just feel that on softer ground, he’d be better.” Wooded’s trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said of the eventual fourth, “At the two pole, he was travelling so nicely I was hoping but it is obvious to me now that he doesn’t stay seven. He has run a great race.”

Pinatubo’s dam Lava Flow (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), a half-sister to the G1 Gran Criterium runner-up Strobilus (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}), was able to win the 11-furlong Listed Prix de la Seine so it is probable that like Too Darn Hot he is not conforming to his pedigree. The second dam Mount Elbrus (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) also scored at listed level at 10 1/2 furlongs and is out of a half-sister to the G1 Prix de Diane heroine and outstanding producer Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}).
That connects Pinatubo with the all-powerful sire Invincible Spirit (Ire) and his brother Kodiac (GB), so it could be that he draws from the family’s fount of speed as other members Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) did before him. This remarkable dynasty also features last Sunday’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), the G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Chinese White (Ire) by Lava Flow’s sire Dalakhani, and the G1 Inglis Sires and G1 Blue Diamond S. hero Pride of Dubai (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}). Lava Flow’s 2-year-old filly is by Sea the Stars (Ire), while she also has a yearling filly by Teofilo (Ire).

Sunday, Deauville, France
QATAR PRIX JEAN PRAT-G1, €240,000, Deauville, 7-12, 3yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:23.03, g/s.
1–PINATUBO (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Shamardal
     1st Dam: Lava Flow (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Mount Elbrus (GB), by Barathea (Ire)
     3rd Dam: El Jazirah (GB), by Kris (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €137,136. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eur, Eng & Fr, G1SW-Eng & Ire, 9-7-1-1, €1,031,896. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), 128, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Black Dahlia (GB), by Dansili (GB). (€900,000 Ylg ’18 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €54,864.
3–Malotru (GB), 128, c, 3, Casamento (Ire)–Magika (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O-Earle I Mack & Les Boyer; B-Wattlefield Stud Ltd & Partner (GB); T-Marco Botti. €27,432.
Margins: 3/4, 2HF, SNK. Odds: 0.60, 40.00, 68.00.
Also Ran: Wooded (Ire), Molatham (GB), Kenway (Fr), Arizona (Ire), Kinross (GB), Well of Wisdom (GB), Alson (Ger), Tropbeau (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Earthlight, who reappears in the six-furlong Listed Qatar Prix Kistena, can be seen in an even better light having beaten Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) in Newmarket’s

G1 Middle Park S. in September. He had that rival back in third when taking the G1 Prix Morny here in August and remains one of his generation’s leaders. “Earthlight is in excellent form according to his trainer,” Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “He came through a very pleasing racecourse gallop well and it appears to have put him back in the zone both mentally and physically. In saying that, he is a laid-back horse with a stocky frame who hasn’t run for 10 months. This race is the perfect spot for him to start off his season.”

If Pinatubo fails to fire, the Prix Jean Prat is up for grabs and Shadwell’s Molatham (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) proved he was a colt on the up with his success in the G3 Jersey S. over this trip at Royal  Ascot June 18. Angus Gold, racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, said, “He’s a horse we’re just getting to know–what we don’t know is what his optimum trip is going to be. Seven furlongs is well within his capabilities. We’re thinking possibly the [G1 Prix] Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs in August at Deauville if he seems to have the speed. We’ll just see on Sunday if he has the speed to win a group one over a shorter trip or do we need to go up to a mile with him.”

Ryan Moore has opted for last year’s G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) over the other Ballydoyle runner Lope Y Fernandez (Ire)  (Lope de Vega {Ire}) despite two below-par efforts this term. Andre Fabre drops both Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) and Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) back from a mile following their efforts in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Pouliches respectively. Alson was third in his June 1 Classic here and it may be that Corinna Baronin Von Ullmann’s free-going homebred is more comfortable at this distance over which he registered a 20-length defeat of his sole rival Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Criterium International at ParisLongchamp in October.

Tropbeau beat the subsequent Pouliches heroine Dream and Do (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G3 Prix de la Grotte over a mile at ParisLongchamp May 11, but Lady Bamford’s G3 Prix Six Perfections and G2 Prix du Calvados winner was disappointing when only fourth in the main event. Freshened up since, she has the sex allowance taking on the colts while TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is another to have benefitted from a break having been sixth in the 2000 Guineas.

“His work has been good since the Guineas and it is the last really big chance he has to run against his own age group at this level,” trainer Ralph Beckett explained. “In terms of experience, he looked like a boy against men in the 2000 Guineas, but he had a stop-start prep going to the race. He had blip in January and one at the start of April, so we didn’t have proper run at the Guineas and we have had a proper run since. Coming back in trip doesn’t worry me, as he has got plenty of boot but he will need it on Sunday.”

In Hamburg’s G1 IDEE 151st Deutsches Derby, all eyes will be on Stall Wasserfreunde’s Wonderful Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) as he bids to emulate his sire’s success in this Classic. He holds Dr. Christoph Berglar’s Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) on the form of his successes in the May 8 G3 Cologne Classic and the G2 Union-Rennen also at Cologne June 14 and it could be that he has yet to reach a peak in 2020. His 12-length win in Krefeld’s G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen in November is still the standard and this is his acid test. Karin Brieskorn and Stall Salzburg’s impressive Listed Brummerhof-Derby Trial winner Kellahen (Ger) (Wiesenpfad {Fr}) warrants respect, such was the manner of his performance in that 11-furlong prep at Hanover June 28, while another live contender should Wonderful Moon flop is his stablemate Dicaprio (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). Christoph Holschbach and Thomas Krauth’s half-brother to last year’s Derby runner-up Django Freeman (Ger) (Campanologist) looked seven-length winner of Munich’s 11-furlong Listed Derby Trial June 15.

Also at Hamburg, the G3 Sparkasse Holstein-Cup sees Stall Raffelberg’s June 21 G2 German 1000 Guineas heroine Lancade (GB) (Areion {Ger}) take on the older fillies and mares. The form of her Dusseldorf Classic success was boosted this week by Rose of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and she will pose a threat to Godolphin’s June 15 Listed Prix Urban Sea winner Half Light (Ire) (Shamardal) and Team Valor’s June 7 Listed Pool & The Gang Cup scorer Go Rose (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}).

Back at Deauville, there is further Godolphin interest in the six-furlong G3 Qatar Prix de Ris-Orangis with Royal Crusade (GB) (Shamardal) looking to build on a highly encouraging return sixth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 19. Runner-up in the G2 Champagne S. over a furlong further at Doncaster in September, the well-regarded homebred meets the older sprinters including the impressive May 31 G2 Prix du Gros-Chene scorer Tour To Paris (Fr) (Fuisse {Fr}). “We were pleased with Royal Crusade’s effort in the Commonwealth Cup and he looks to have come forward physically for his first run of the year,” Charlie Appleby said. “He is taking on older opposition but we are hopeful that he can become one of our nice sprinters for the future.”

Deauville’s fixture also sees Alexander Tamagni-Bodmer & Regula Vannod’s 2019 G1 Coronation S. heroine Watch Me (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) make her seasonal bow in the Listed Qatar Prix de la Calonne over a mile, while Dundalk stages the belated G3 Woodford Reserve Ballysax S. in which Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah) takes a step up to 10 furlongs. Having pushed Molatham (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) to the line when runner-up in the seven-furlong Jersey at the Royal meeting, Peter Brant and Coolmore’s TDN Rising Star has stamina to prove.

Capannelle in Rome hosts the weekend’s most valuable race, the €704,000 G3 Derby Italiano, as part of a six stakes card. The locally trained Cima Emergency (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) is the highest-rated runner and merits respect off a last-out victory in the G3 Premio Parioli Shadwell (Italian 2000 Guineas) over a mile on June 14; he has never been worse than second in five starts but has distance questions to answer as he races beyond a mile for the first time. Aurelius In Love (Ire) (Alhebayeb {Ire}) looks to build on a pair of black-type wins last year and a recent listed second over 2000 metres to Masterwin (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Baptism (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) lines up off a listed score going 2100 metres three weeks ago.

With purses significantly down in Britain, Andrew Balding and Mark Johnston are among the British-based trainers looking to take home a slice of the pie here. Johnston saddles King’s Caper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who won three times last year at two but he has been well-beaten in both outings in 2020; a fifth behind English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) in the Listed Derby Trial S. and a 12th in Royal Ascot’s King George V S. Balding sends out Papa Power (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), twice a winner over the all-weather in February but last of six home in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot.

Click here for the group fields.

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“Earthlight is in great form and will run in the Prix Kistena on Sunday,” Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard confirmed to Racing Post.

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Hannon told his website www.richardhannonracing.co.uk: “As long as there are no last-minute glitches, the plan is for Threat to take his chance in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday. We were originally looking at the Prix Jean Prat in France. But the ground there is very soft at the moment, and I don’t really want to run him on that surface in what looks a hot little race.

“That’s not to say the July Cup is any easier, but I just think the drop back to six furlongs might be just what he needs, and he hasn’t got much to find with Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire})–and he’ll be favourite–so it makes sense to have a crack at this prize. He’s come out of Ascot in great shape, and might even come on for it a little bit as well. Oisin Murphy maintains the ride.”

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With Appleby reporting Pinatubo to have come out of his race at the Royal meeting in good fashion, a trip to France is on the agenda.

Appleby said, “Pinatubo did an easy piece of work on Wednesday and that was his first piece of work back. The piece of work was nothing strong, but it pleased us. We have a target that is the Prix Jean Prat, but it is not rubber-stamped yet. He will do another piece of work over the weekend and we will make our decision then. So far the post-race signs after Ascot have been good.

“If he has pleased us and everything is going well, we will drop him back to seven for the Prix Jean Prat.”

Although Pinatubo has been beaten for the first time in his career, Appleby believes there are plenty of positives to take out of his efforts.

He said, “He definitely came forward a bit more from the Guineas to St James’s Palace S., which we had hoped he would. I know he has been beaten in both the St James’s Palace S. and 2000 Guineas, but what he showed us is that he has great courage.

“William [Buick] said he showed great guts to keep going in the St James’s Palace. The extra furlong just caught him out at Ascot last time having travelled so well, but what he showed us was determination and that he is a great battler.”

Despite Pinatubo being lined up for a drop back in trip, the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland in November is a potential end-of-season target.

Appleby said, “You can see how strongly he travels through his races, so dropping back to seven doesn’t worry me at all. I’m not saying that he won’t get a mile in time. What we could potentially work back from is the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland. The two-turn mile around there could really suit him.”

The G2 Qatar Lennox S. at Goodwood remains the target for Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). However, Appleby has not ruled out running the Dubawi colt in the G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket next Saturday if conditions are suitable.

He said, “Ultimately the Lennox is the aim, as we know what he can do over seven furlongs, but we might look at the July Cup. We know he is a better horse with cut in the ground, so we wouldn’t want to be dropping back on a sounder surface.

“If the conditions changed the July Cup would be worth looking at. We always had it on our mind he would be a sprinter this year.”

MG1SW Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) looks set to make his next appearance abroad, with Appleby weighing up options in France and Germany for Excelebration (Ire) gelding, who finished third last time out in the Prince of Wales’s S. at the Royal meeting.

“We are looking at either the G1 Prix D’Ispahan over nine furlongs at Chantilly or the G1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennan over a mile and a quarter at Munich.

“He pulled up out of his last run well. I was pleased with the run and he put up a solid performance. The plan after this will be to give him a break and then look at going for some international races later in the year.”

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“He’s doing ok, he’s back in work,” said Fabre. “He’s going to go to Saint-Cloud next week for a public workout, just because we don’t really have any other option. We’re looking to run him in the Prix Jean Prat, that is the aim with him.

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