Aomori City takes Pinatubo route into G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes

Aomori City bids to join an elite group of Godolphin juveniles to have won the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday, 15 September.

Five previous winners of the seven-furlong feature in the royal blue silks include outstanding stallion Dubawi, subsequent Classic winners Dawn Approach and Native Trail in addition to the brilliant Champion Two-Year-Old Pinatubo.

Pinatubo warmed up for his nine-length demolition at the Curragh with victory in the G2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, a race that Aomori City readily won this year.

Trained like Pinatubo by Charlie Appleby, Aomori City scored cosily on his debut at Nottingham and stayed on to take third behind subsequent G1 Prix Morny winner Whistlejacket in the G2 July Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival.

Charlie Appleby said: “Aomori City brings a nice profile into this and has earned his chance at this level on the back of his Vintage Stakes win. We felt there was marked improvement with the step up to seven furlongs at Goodwood and he deserves to be respected.”