All is not lost for Pinatubo despite humbling in 2000 Guineas

On the face of it, finishing third in yesterday's thrilling 2000 Guineas at Newmarket looks a bad result for Pinatubo.

The Godolphin colt lost his unbeaten tag after six straight wins, with Kameko landing the spoils in a course record time under champion jockey Oisin Murphy, trained by Andrew Balding, and owned by Qatar Racing.

Kameko in the winner's enclosure after a decisive victory in the 2000 Guineas.

Wichita managed to overturn the form from the Dewhurst in October to finish second for Frankie Dettori and Aidan O'Brien, having previously been one of many to chase Pinatubo to the winning post last season.

However, there was some talk on social media after the race that Pinatubo hasn't trained on - and that is complete nonsense. If the son of Shamardal hadn't developed at all over the winter he would've been falling out of the back of the television, much like another of O'Brien's runners, Arizona.

The undefeated colt travelled down to post well enough, and seemed to be motoring through the race as we were so used to in the last 12 months. From my eye, it just looked like he tired in the final furlong, and the petrol ran out. When jockey William Buick asked him to really pick up, he didn't get much of a response.

You have to be able to forgive a horse for their first run after a long lay-off, as long as they show signs that the fire is still burning. We'll obviously have to wait for the form to develop, but it looked like a seriously strong 2000 Guineas . Military March ran a cracking trial for the Derby in fourth, Juan Elcano took a huge step up to finish fifth at odds of 66/1 and Kinross isn't without potential.

Horse racing can evoke serious overreactions from people talking with their empty pockets. While naturally disappointing when an unbeaten record is lost, all hope hasn't evaporated yet for Pinatubo.

Trainer Charlie Appleby confirmed post-race that his next target will be the St. James' Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot, which is absolutely the right race to go for. Ascot is a much easier track than the undulating Newmarket, and it may be that Pinatubo doesn't perform to his best at HQ.

Do not give up on the two-time Group 1 winner just yet.

Pinatubo will return to the scene of his blistering Chesham Stakes win at Royal Ascot.

Of course, it wasn't all about Pinatubo failing to deliver. Kameko winning in itself is an excellent story.

It was Murphy's first Classic success, and he timed his run on the son of Kitten's Joy perfectly to just deny Wichita, who has definitely improved and looks a really exciting horse. Kameko's owners were celebrating 10 years of sponsoring the race too, and given that their new champion was sired by the same stallion as the late Roaring Lion made it all the more special.

Victory for the Vertem Futurity Trophy winner also means that race has now delivered three consecutive 2000 Guineas winners, following in the footsteps of Saxon Warrior and Magna Grecia. Although many were sceptical of the form from the 2019 running, giving it was rescheduled and took place on the all-weather at Newcastle, Kameko showed why connections have been raving about him for some time.

Kameko and Oisin Murphy on their way to Classic glory.

Having been flying home at the line, a step up in trip could bring about even more improvement, and the sky appears to be the limit for him.

While the race didn't deliver the result some were hoping for, it did set a fantastic platform for the season ahead.

Quadrilateral can make it four in a row in 1000 Guineas

Like Pinatubo, Roger Charlton's Quadrilateral is defending her unbeaten record in the fillies' equivalent of the Classic. She is much more lightly raced, having had just three starts, and landed the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October.

Quadrilateral beat one of the other market principles that day in Love, and having had a luckless trip the daughter of Frankel flew home late to steal victory from Powerful Breeze, who unfortunately misses the race through injury.

Quadrilateral just got up on the far side to land a maiden Group 1 success.

Despite connections feeling she will improve for today regardless and may need further in time, she is an imposing type with masses of potential, and at around 3/1 is a very good price to land a first Classic for former champion apprentice jockey Jason Watson. The form of the trainer is also a positive, with Charlton operating at a 29% strike rate since the resumption of racing.

The money for Jessica Harrington's Millisle is both interesting and somewhat perplexing. The winner of the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs at HQ in September has been heavily backed in the last 24 hours, and has been rivalling Quadrilateral to be favourite.

Millisle will be ridden by Oisin Murphy, looking to complete a Guineas double, but there is an enormous element of doubt about the trip. Her sire Starspangledbanner ran over further than six furlongs once in his entire career and finished stone dead last, and although she hit the line very well last time out, you are taking a leap of faifth that she wants the extra quarter of a mile.

There must also be doubts about the stamina of Raffle Prize. She was behind Millisle in the Cheveley Park, having also never raced over six furlongs. The same can be said for her sire Slade Power, although her dam won twice over seven. At the prices, she is a much better bet, plus Mark Johnston's yard could not be in better form, boasting a 24% strike rate from 50 runners.

An interesting runner at a much bigger price is Summer Romance. The daughter of Kingman raced exclusively over six furlongs last season, winning her first two starts in impressive style, before failing to deliver the next twice. Her pedigree suggests she will improve for the increased distance, and it may be that she was simply outpaced by natural sprinters as a two-year-old. There are far worse each-way bets at 25/1.

Summer Romance looks a huge price to hit the frame.

While Shimmering has an awful lot to find on ratings and form, Frankie Dettori seemed quietly confident that she would run a decent race when asked about her chances. He metnioned that they think a lot of her at home, and with the plum draw on the rail she isn't without interest.

Quadrilateral does appear to be the stand out horse in the race though, and she can continue her unbeaten streak before stepping up in trip later in the season.