YOU have to love the horses who divide opinion; it is what makes for compelling viewing and lively betting. Pinatubo finds himself as such a horse despite in many respects being entirely straightforward.

He was an exceptional and unbeaten two-year-old, but probably not quite as good as some of us rated him at the time. He might not quite have got home in a 2000 Guineas notable for having been run at a breakneck pace, then got outspeeded late on by Palace Pier in a messy St James’s Palace Stakes.

But he always turns up and gives his running, and that was enough for him to get back on the winning trail in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville on Sunday dropped to 1,400 metres. Bizarrely, there were still a few people maintaining that he is a 10-12 furlong performer after this!

History is unlikely to judge this year’s edition as an especially strong one, though time in the here and now reckons it was okay. In coming from some way back, Pinatubo ran to 119 on my figures, raised to 120 on the back of a 23.03s final 400 metres.

Runner-up Lope Y Fernandez (117) actually quickened a bit better than Pinatubo did initially before the latter asserted in typically willing style. Malotru (110) and Wooded (107, but 111 at shorter previously) were a few lengths back in third and fourth.

Pinatubo looks equally effective at seven furlongs and eight furlongs to me, providing the latter is not a slog. The Breeders’ Cup Mile in November is being spoken of as an end-of-season target, and the turning mile there, on what may well be firm going, should play to his strengths.

Deauville

The Deauville card also saw a win for Royal Crusade (109) in the Group 3 Prix de Ris-Orangis, though he was helped a little in coming late off quite a strong pace, and listed wins by Earthlight (110, but last year’s 116 gets reinstated), Althiqa (96) and Watch Me (108, but was 115 previously).

Big things were expected of Earthlight at the season’s outset, and they may yet be forthcoming. This ended up being a well-run race and does suggest the unbeaten colt will be back to his best next time. I remain of the opinion – based on his striding – that Earthlight will prove best as a sprinter.