Pinatubo could not have been more impressive when winning last time out, so looks a worthy 13/8 favourite with Coral to take the step up into Group 2 company in his stride and land the spoils in the 7f Vintage Stakes for juvenile colts on Glorious Goodwood day 1 this Tuesday (14:25).
That came in the Listed 17-runner Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot where the Charlie Appleby trained son of Shamardal beat Lope Y Fernandez, who re-opposes in this, by 3 1/4 lengths.
After being held-up in mid-division by James Doyle, Pinatubo made smooth headway to track the leaders going well two from home.
When asked to go about his business inside the final furlong, the response was immediate and he quickened clear to win with any amount in hand.
Pinatubo broke the track record for a two-year-old, so his time figure backs up what was a visually stunning success.
It suggests that the Godolphin owned colt has the potential to go right to the very top and he is now unbeaten in three outings.
Prior to Royal Ascot he landed the Woodcote Stakes over 6f on Oaks day at Epsom when running on strongly to beat Oh Purple Reign by 1 1/2 lengths despite not really handling the track.
Goodwood is also an undulating track but – if handling it – Pinatubo is the one they all have to beat. He is thus taken to emulate his sire who won this in 2004 before going on to much better things.
Visinari feared most in Vintage Stakes
In-form trainer mark Johnston has won the race three-times, most recently with Dark Vision 12 months ago.
He saddles a leading contender in the shape of Visinari, who can be backed at a best-price 3/1 with Paddy Power.
This grey son of Dark Angel created a huge impression on debut at Newmarket when making all to easily land a 10-runner novice stakes contest by 3 1/2 lengths from Ottoman Court.
He did so in a good time and the pair pulled a further 10 lengths clear of the third home.
That taking display saw Visinari sent off odds-on for the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket and, although he finished only third behind Royal Lytham, he lost little in defeat.
Visinari looked to be going as well as anything when taking up the running under Frankie Dettori a furlong from home, but then showed signs of inexperience and was unable to find any extra close home.
He will have learned plenty from that and Visinari remains an exciting prospect who should be suited by the step up to 7f.
With Dettori once again in the saddle, and the stable operating at a strike rate of 23 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing, a bold bid to get back to winning ways looks assured.
Visinari thus rates the main danger to Pinatubo in the Vintage Stakes.
Lots to like about Zaaki in Lennox Stakes
Zaaki has taken his form to a new level this season, so looks to hold leading claims of providing Newmarket handler Sir Michael Stoute with a first-ever winner of the 7f Group 2 Lennox Stakes (15:00)
This four-year-old made a winning reappearance in an eight-runner Listed contest at Ascot when gamely beating Barney Roy by a neck.
After forfeiting ground when slowly away, Zaaki made good headway two from home before taking up the running a furlong out and staying on strongly. It was a terrific effort, given how the race panned out.
Barney Roy is a top class performer who since won a Listed contest at Longchamp in impressive fashion, and was far from disgraced last time out when eighth of 16 to Lord Glitters in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
That gives the form a solid look and Zaaki went on to follow-up in good style when beating Oh This Is Us by a length in the Group 3 Dimoed Stakes on Derby day at Epsom.
Although thwarted in his hat-trick bid last time out when beaten a nose by the ill-fated Beat The Bank in the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot, Zaaki went down all guns blazing and lost little in defeat.
Indeed, it was a career-best performance and the drop back to 7f in this should not be a problem as he led going well at the furlong marker and rallied bravely when headed.
Zaaki looks a typical Stoute improving older horse capable of winning plenty more races, and he can be backed at 11/4 with Betway to land the spoils in this.
Sir Dancealot back to defend crown
Sir Dancealot swooped late to land the spoils in this 12 months ago by a short-head from Suedois and is a 13/2 shot with BetVictor to retain his crown.
This five-year-old, who hails from the yard of David Elsworth, enjoyed a tremendous time last season when winning on four occasions.
In the last of those in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, Sir Dancealot was held-up as usual by regular pilot Gerald Mosse before bursting through and showing a smart turn of foot to beat Dream Of Dreams by 1 3/4 lengths.
He has since been campaigned at the highest level and posted a really solid effort when a 2 1/4 lengths fifth of 16 to One Master in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Arc day in October.
The son of Sir Prancealot was also far from disgraced on seasonal reappearance at Newbury in the Group 1 Lockinge when sixth of 14 to Mustashry, where he pressed the leaders two from home before weakening to be beaten 6 1/4 lengths over a 1m trip which stretches his stamina to the limit.
Although then disappointing last time out when only fourth of five to Happy Power in a Listed contest at York, that was again over 1m and the soft ground was totally against Sir Dancealot.
The return to a sounder surface and drop back down to 7f looks sure to see him in a better light. So, at the odds on offer, Sir Dancealot looks a big each-way player on the pick of his form.
First Sitting appeals each-way in Glorious Goodwood day 1 opener
In the 1m 2f Unibet Handicap that gets proceedings underway on Glorious Goodwood day 1 (13:50), First Sitting looks cracking each-way value at 16/1 with William Hill who pay five places.
This Chris Wall trained eight-year-old has won two of his three starts over course and distance and has become well-treated.
In the last of those successes 14 months ago, the son of Dansilii stayed on strongly to win easing down by half-a-length from Autocratic in a Listed contest off an official rating of 110.
He went on to finish a fine two-length third to Talismanic in a Group 3 at Deauville in France, again off 110, and is now able to race in this competitive class 2 handicap off a mark of 97.
That is the lowest rating First Sitting has raced off since June 2016, so it gives him a big shout at the weights on the pick of his form.
Although well-beaten in his first two starts this season, there was much more to like about First Sitting’s most recent effort when a keeping on three lengths fourth of nine to Setting Sail at Newmarket.
That was a big step back in the right direction and he now meets the winner, who is a top-price 4/1 favourite for this, on 11lb better terms.
It makes First Sitting look hugely overpriced in relation to that rival and well worth an each-way wager at the odds on offer.
