Pinatubo goes to post in the Guineas
Catching Pigeons gossip and tips ahead Royal Ascot 2020
By Catching Pigeons
Horse Racing
Thu June 18, 2020 · 4y ago
Our gallops insider looks ahead to the rest of Royal Ascot, with Pinatubo and Quadrilateral both fancied to hit back after Guineas defeat.
Hypothetical - 1.15 Ascot, Thursday
John Gosden's Hypothetical is just preferred to HMS President in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot on Thursday. There were long faces at Gosden Towers when this lightly raced son of Lope De Vega was beaten in a classic trial at Kempton on his return to action, but hopefully his smart home form is not leading up the garden path, and he can reproduce his best on what is likely to be easier ground.
Starcat - 4.10 Ascot, Thursday
A big run from Juan Elcano on Wednesday will give a handy pointer to the chance of Starcat in the Britannia Stakes. A stablemate of Kipps, Starcat was sent to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas as a Royal ascot warm up, and did not let his connections down in finishing lengths adrift of Kameko in 12th. Morrison knows what is required for one of the most competitive of the meeting's handicaps, and Starcat will be primed and ready.
Golden Horde - 3.35 Royal Ascot, Friday
Golden Horde can emerge as a leading player among the top sprinters with victory in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on a Friday. Clive Cox has had great success at this meeting over the shorter distances and there is plenty of confidence behind this son of Lethal Force after some smart preparatory work, including a classy spin in a racecourse workout. A very consistent two year old as well as being a very quick one, his win over this weekend’s leading St James’s Palace Stakes contender Threat in the Richmond at Goodwood was a cracking effort, as was his neck second to Earthlight in the Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket last back-end. If he can cope with the soft ground and reproduce similar form here, he looks sure to go close.
Art Power - 1.15 Royal Ascot, Friday
Art Power can see off fellow Northern raider Keep Busy in the Palace Of Holyroodehouse Handicap. Tim Easterby has a very high regard for this progressive three year old, and there was no secret about his smart pre-season homework when he made his debut at Newcastle on his comeback on the first day back from lockdown. He fairly hosed up, and gave the impression a valuable race was well within his capabilities. The fact he won in the mud at York on the second start of his career last October, suggests he will be at home on the prevailing ground here, and he looks nicely handicapped.
Golden Melody - 1.50 Royal Ascot, Friday
Golden Melody could not have been much more impressive when beating the well thought of Star Of Emaraaty at Haydock on his debut 12 days ago, and should go close in the Group 2 Albany Stakes. A daughter of mud loving Belardo, he handled the good to soft ground well at the Lancashire course, and he is another sure to be suited by the underfoot conditions.
Morando - 3.00 Royal Ascot, Friday
Morando is more than at home when the going is soft, and he looks well worth an each-way interest in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. Andrew Balding's charge may be the oldest in a good quality line-up, but he showed he was improving with age last season, and a long distance win over Kew Gardens on his reappearance in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last season, shows he can hit the mark first time up.
Nelson Gay - 2.25 Royal Ascot, Friday
Richard Hughes has a high opinion of the once-raced Nelson Gay and he should go well at a big price in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes. There was plenty of confidence behind the son of Mehmas at Yarmouth, but little went right for him in the race and he could only finish third. Although he needs to find plenty on the bare form, a big improvement is anticipated here.
Pinatubo - 3.00 Royal Ascot, Saturday
Pinatubo can avenge his defeat in the 2000 Guineas in the Group 1 St James' Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday. There has been much speculation that last season's two year old superstar has lost the dominance he showed during his first season, but the Charlie Appleby camp are convinced he will come on a lot for his trip to the Rowley Mile two weeks ago, where he reportedly blew up in finishing third to Kameko and his old rival Wichita. The latter takes him on again, but Pinatubo showed when landing an impressive win in the Dewhurst at Newmarket on his final start, that he handles soft ground well, and that may well prove decisive in this latest encounter between not only this pair, but also two more of his old rivals, Arizona and Positive. He delighted Appleby in a workout on Wednesday, and the Godolphin hierarchy have not lost faith.
Quadrilateral - 2.25 Royal Ascot, Saturday
Quadrilateral lost her unbeaten record when only third in the 1000 Guineas 13 days ago, but she looks worth another chance in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes. Roger Charlton was pleased enough with her third to Love in the first fillies' classic, but thought with a bit more cover early on, and a lesser desire to get on with things early on might well see an improved show. It is interesting connections have not fitted a tongue tie this time, and she may well settle better this time with the trip to Newmarket under her belt.
Count D'Orsay - 12.40 Royal Ascot, Saturday
Count D'Orsay can continue his upward curve from last season and kick off the final day with a win for the Easterby team in the Silver Wokingham Handicap. A winner of three of his six starts after his arrival at Great Habton Stables from Charles O'Brien last July, he kicked off the new campaign with a fine third to Makanah on fast-ish ground at Newmarket 13 days ago. He is proven to be very effective on this more demanding surface and will be sharper for the run.
One Master - 3.35 Royal Ascot, Saturday
It may pay to take a chance with One Master in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Friday's rain will make this another attritional event, and One Master has proven in the past that she is able to cope with tough conditions. The winner of the Prix de la Foret on soft ground last back-end, she went on to finish second in the Champions Sprint here in October. That was a fair effort just a couple of weeks after the Foret win, and she is clearly much better since returning from a mile to the shorter distances. There seems no reason why she cannot improve further and she looks a solid each-way bet in a race where there are question marks over some of her rivals.
Summerghand - 4.10 Royal Ascot, Saturday
Summerghand has shown some of his best form in the mud and he looks nicely weighted in the Wokingham Handicap. A good third to Cape Byron in this race 12 months ago, he went on to be placed in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood, the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon and the Ayr Gold Cup, and warmed up for this return trip with a very solid second to Tinto at Newmarket earlier this month. David O'Meara has his team in great heart, and he looks reasonably drawn.
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