Matt Chapman is back and in top form with his own imaginary take on last weekend’s cancelled Guineas meeting
WOW! I’m still buzzing after last weekend’s opening Classics of the season and OMG did ante-post favourites Pinatubo and Quadrilateral deliver.
Charlie Appleby, the handler of the former, was like a bouncy kangaroo after his victory, while Charlton chose to celebrate with a unique version of ‘The Floss’ in which he added a mamboesque twist.
One can only wonder what he has in mind if Quadrilateral lands the Oaks! Maybe he could work on the ‘Charlton Carlton’, bringing back memories of the 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
For now, though, Charlton will have to be happy with being the King of Beckhampton.
Over the winter we had all hoped Pinatubo was the real deal after his incredible juvenile rating stated he was the best youngster we had seen for twenty five years.
With Covid-19 restrictions lifted for travelling horses, he faced a proper test on his three-year-old debut. He delivered.
The winter market leader travelled strongly down into the bushes, briefly hit a flat spot while taking over from Arizona, and then powered four lengths clear of the staying on Kameko, who looked a proper Derby hope in the mould of Generous under a beautiful and sympathetic ride from Oisin Murphy.
At odds of 4-5 Pinatubo, though, was just too good under William Buick, who of course had provided Appleby with a Derby success when they teamed up with Masar in 2018.
The way Pinatubo ran to the line here suggests he will stay at least a mile and a quarter, and possibly twelve furlongs.
Appleby, once standing still, said: “Over the winter I didn’t want to say too much, but Pinatubo improved every day and I have to thank Sheikh Mohammed for sending me the horse. Thank you, sir. Thank you. And I thank you again sir. He could of gone to Saeed bin Suroor!”
Appleby added: “I will discuss things with His Highness, but we have to think about Epsom provided they clear those pesky walkers so we can run the race at that track.”
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Disappointments of the race were Earthlight and Siskin, who both clearly failed to stay. Siskin’s trainer, Ger Lyons, simply commented: “It’s Ger like Jeremy. Not Ger as in Geraghty.” Ok Ger.
Quadrilateral, a 7-2 chance having been supported from 5-1 on the day, brought back memories of the fabulous Oh So Sharp as she rallied under young Jason Watson to score in a three- way photo.
Watson revealed his best mate, Sherlock Holmes, had predicted he would bang in the victory the night before! Good tipping. Although some of us have been saying it since the Fillies' Mile!
Charlton was all a fluster. “Those early Classics (with Quest For Fame and Sanglamore just after I took over from Jeremy Tree) came so quickly that I felt they weren’t really mine. This one is mine. Mine, mine, mine. They can’t take that away from me - oh I love that song.
“I just can’t wait to get home now and do a bit of gardening to celebrate. I might even open a bottle of Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Rioja Reserva which is an excellent buy for about £9.”
As for the Oaks, Watson was in no doubt about stamina. He said: “She will love it. Get her over a mile and a half Roger my son. I’m going to tell the Good Lord (Teddy Beckett, racing manager to owner Prince Khalid Abdullah) we are on for a hip hop season with this filly. Oh yeah baby.”
Quadrilateral pipped the Jessica Harrington pair Cayenne Pepper and Albigna by a head and a neck.
The trainer said: “They both worked over four miles with my Gold Cup winner Sizing John and when they finished upsides I knew they were in good shape. Sizing John is a fine work horse at that trip.”
Cayenne Pepper ran on strongly in the Fillies' Mile behind Quadrilateral and that experience of the track seemed to make all the difference here.
She will probably excel over a mile and a quarter, while you would imagine a Breeders' Cup challenge will be in mind for Albigna who was very unlucky in defeat at that fixture in 2019.
Of course none of that happened. But Covid-19-willing I hope it wets the appetite for what might be just around the corner...