Double for Pinatubo

Hallasan lands £300,000 2yo Stakes and Basalt impresses at Newcastle to continue promising season for first-season sire

Pinatubo enjoyed a superb double on Thursday, 12 September when previous winner Hallasan won the valuable 2YO Stakes at Doncaster, before Basalt put up an eyecatching performance at Newcastle to take his first-season sire’s winners’ tally to 12.

Hallasan showed great tenacity at Doncaster to prevail in a thrilling finish in the six-and-a-half-furlong 2YO Stakes, holding off a sustained challenge from favourite Camille Pissarro to win by a nose and add a second victory to his CV.

Hallasan was bred by Highview Bloodstock and is out of Fig Roll (Bahamian Bounty), herself a Stakes-winning juvenile. He is a half brother to four winners, including G3 winner Al Raya.

Later at Newcastle, Basalt was always prominent under Holly Doyle, racing in the centre of the leading trio. The Archie Watson-trained colt made his move a furlong out and quickened impressively to move ever further clear and win by three and a half lengths.

Basalt was bred by A Stroud, T Stewart and J Hanly and is out of the unraced Oasis Dream mare Alienate, a half-sister to G1 winner and Champion, Logician.

Pinatubo is also sire of Group performers Wolf Of Badenoch and Cavallo Bay, plus Qilin Queen, who has also been placed at Black Type level.