Pikachu bids for Vintage revenge over Al Hudaiba
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Pikachu will be aiming to reverse form with Superlative Stakes winner Al Hudaiba in the Coral Vintage Stakes on the opening day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
The Charlie Johnston-trained juvenile has progressed in each of his three races to date, producing a career-best when a length-and-a-quarter third behind Charlie Appleby’s Al Hudaiba in the Newmarket Group Two earlier this month.
They will battle once again as the Amo Racing-owned Pikachu, who will be ridden by David Egan, is among the six declared for the seven-furlong contest on the Sussex Downs.
“He’s a great little horse. He’s had a couple of great runs and I’m very, very happy with him. He has a huge future ahead of him,” said Kia Joorabchian, founder of the Amo operation.
“Like Charlie said to me the other day, he shouldn’t even be doing what he’s doing at this age and that stage, but he is doing it.
“That means he’s obviously a very talented horse and he will get better and better and better.
“Look at his last run, he was right up there and when they went past him, he was coming back at them so he will probably need the mile eventually.
“He is one of the best two-year-olds we have. He’s a very good horse in the making and we have to make sure we don’t overdo it.”
Al Hudaiba has won all three races he has completed – the Dark Angel colt was leading when unseating Tom Marquand at Yarmouth on his second start – and Appleby is confident he has progressed since his Newmarket victory.
“Al Hudaiba has come out of the July Festival in good order,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.
“We thought about going straight on to the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, but Zavateri won the Superlative and Vintage last season before winning in Ireland.
“He has progressed since the Superlative and we are happy giving weight to the field. We are applying blinkers as we know he can be a bit wayward, and he has worn them at home without any issue.
“The track at Goodwood should hopefully suit and he looks the one they all have to beat.”
Aidan O’Brien saddles another Newmarket winner in Haffner, while there is another Irish raider with Joseph O’Brien’s Ruler’s Control.
Ralph Beckett’s dual Salisbury winner Undiscovered puts his unbeaten record on the line, as does the Oliver Cole-trained Dr Rascal following his triumphs at Leicester and Ascot.
“I think he’s pretty talented, from his home work he deserves to be in the race,” Cole said.
“He’s a very nice horse. He’s balanced, I think he will like the track and the ground will be brilliant for him on the first day.
“I’m very much looking forward to watching him run, he’s a talented individual with a bright future.”
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