NEWMARKET trainers Roger Varian and Charlie Appleby head to France for their latest battle on the track.
Pinatubo and Molatham are the headline acts in a Sunday treat, as they face-off in a thrilling Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.
There is notable British interest with the likes of Kinross and Malotru also heading over, but they look up against it.
Pinatubo is looking to get his head in front for the first time at three – after defeats in the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace.
His trainer Appleby has decided to drop the once star juvenile back to seven furlongs in France.
He said: “He’s all fit and well, we’ve lost nothing in defeat the last twice and we’re looking forward to it.
“The drop in trip looks logical after what we’ve seen.
“He looks well in his coat and why it’s a hotter Group 1 than it can be, we’re more than happy with our horse.”
Pinatubo heads into the race looking for some answers, but the opposite is true of Varian’s Molatham – last seen when winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in taking fashion.
Varian said: “He came out of Ascot very well, we had nothing to worry about there.
“He’s in good form, and has always been very straightforward, he doesn’t tell us much at home.
“We’ve been happy with his work and this looks the obvious race. I’m sure we can go up and down in trip along the line, he’s very versatile, but with a seven furlong race there for us and after winning the Jersey and his good form over that trip at two.
“He’s a Group 3 winner and at some point he was going to have to step up in class anyway.”
Pinatubo heads the market available at odds-on, but Varian is confident his horse could ruffle some feathers with his juvenile form worth plenty of credit.
He added: “It’s a hot race though, it isn’t always, but this year it is. He’ll need a career best to grab the prize.
“The Doncaster race he won last year was very good form.
“Wichita was second there and why he needs to top that by a few pounds we’re looking forward to taking our chance.
“The French have some strong cards too, Wooded is respected and Andre Fabre’s horse [Tropbeau] who was fourth in their Guineas.”
