Arazi, Celtic Swing, Frankel: how the best juvenile performers fared at three

Pinatubo's outstanding nine-length win in the National Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday propelled him past Frankel's rating as a two-year-old as he posted the best juvenile performance this century, with only Arazi and Celtic Swing ranking higher for their achievements as a juvenile on Racing Post Ratings.

However, while the Curragh demolition job has whetted the appetite to see what else Pinatubo can achieve this year and beyond, what is the precedent like for two-year-old monsters and their subsequent improvement arc?

What will Pinatubo achieve as a three-year-old?Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Arazi

Racing Post Rating 134
Achieved in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Dirt), Churchill Downs November 2, 1991

Arazi produced three of the four best juvenile performances based on Racing Post Ratings, with his best display coming in his final start at two.

The Francois Boutin-trained superstar won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by five lengths on his dirt debut, making a dramatic mid-race move through the field en route to his effortless success.

Arazi never scaled those heights at three, winning just a Listed race at Saint-Cloud and a Group 2 at Longchamp, with a Kentucky Derby eighth among his disappointing runs.

Star rating aged three: 2/5

Celtic Swing

RPR 133
Racing Post Trophy, Doncaster, October 22, 1994

Lady Herries ran Celtic Swing three times as a two-year-old and it was his last outing of the three, in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy, which created such fanfare.

Celtic Swing's form took off at Doncaster with a very impressive 12-length win over Annus Mirabilis.

He was no dud at three either, despite failing to reach the giddy heights of his Doncaster win. In four starts he claimed the Greenham and the Prix du Jockey Club, although a game but ultimately narrow second to Pennekamp in the 2,000 Guineas when favourite was sandwiched between those two wins.

Star rating aged three: 4/5

Pinatubo

RPR 128
Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, Curragh, September 15, 2019

Pinatubo's wins at Wolverhampton and Epsom were surpassed by an explosive win in the Chesham at Royal Ascot. However, much more was to come for Godolphin's son of Shamardal as a five-length Vintage Stakes success at Goodwood took him to the head of the 2,000 Guineas market.

It was a position enforced in no uncertain terms at the Curragh on Sunday when Pinatubo quickened nine lengths clear of Group 2 winners Armory and Arizona.

Xaar

RPR 127
Thoroughbred Corporation Dewhurst Stakes, October 18, 1997

Xaar's tight Prix Morny second gives his two-year-old form a symmetrical yet slightly tarnished look, but there can be no shying away from the magnitude of his seven-length win in the 1997 Dewhurst Stakes.

His fantastic triumph on the Rowley Mile earned him an RPR of 127, but he struggled to get his head in front beyond his two-year-old season, a neck win in the Craven aside.

However, he did post respectable efforts at the highest level in the 2,000 Guineas (fourth), Irish Champion Stakes (third) and at four in the Coral-Eclipse (second).

Star rating aged three: 2/5

Frankel

RPR 126
Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, Newmarket, October 16, 2010

Frankel's superb ten-length win in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot was narrowly exceeded by his two-and-a-quarter length win over Roderic O'Connor in the Dewhurst at Newmarket, which earned him a RPR of 126.

Unlike many on this list, building on those fine juvenile performances at three and four was no problem for Frankel, who was never beaten and in truth defeat rarely looked like it was even a conceivable option for the highest-ever rated racehorse.

He won the Greenham, 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace, Sussex and QEII in a flawless Classic season, before further classy wins at four in the Lockinge, Queen Anne, Sussex, International and finally the Champion Stakes.

Star rating aged three: 5/5

Hector Protector

RPR 126
Ciga Grand Criterium, Longchamp, October 6, 1990

Another entry on the list for Francois Boutin is Hector Protector, who sealed a perfect juvenile record with victory in the Ciga Grand Criterium at Longchamp.

Ridden by Freddy Head, Hector Protector produced a masterclass to beat the Andre Fabre-trained Masterclass by two and a half lengths.

His unbeaten sequence stretched into his three-year-old season with two more wins at Longchamp, including the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, but he was beaten for the first time when fourth in the Derby. He also won the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Star rating aged three: 4/5

Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post app for all the day's going updates, news and tips