20 Jun 2020

Palace Pier downs Pinatubo in St James’s Palace thriller

Palace Pier heads 12 declarations for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes

The St James’s Palace Stakes lived up to it’s billing on Saturday as Frankie Dettori completed a quick-fire Group 1 double aboard Palace Pier in a thriller at Ascot.

Down the stretch it looked like last year’s Champion two-year-old Pinatubo would land his first victory at three having come third in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at the beginning of the month. William Buick looked to have plenty of horse underneath him three furlongs out as he pushed through traffic to get a clear run.

However, it was not to be as Frankie Dettori delivered a sustained late run down the outside, coming home much the best to grab Pinatubo in the closing stages and assert.

QIPCO 2000 Guineas 2nd Wichita was game in third and looked to be rallying late on.