Blue Vinyl hunts Holiday Bonanza Trophy
TRAINER Patrick Lynch will be hoping that the stable’s 2000 Guineas and St Leger winner Blue Vinyl can turn his fortunes around in the $1.14-million BetMakers Holiday Bonanza Trophy #1, the main attraction of three trophy races on the 10-race programme at Caymanas Park today.
Blue Vinyl had failed to win a race since stepping out of his age group on October 29, following a successful Classic campaign in which he won two legs (2000 Guineas and the Jamaica St Leger) of the Triple Crown series of races.
However, a second-place finish behind American-bred I’ve Got Magic over six furlongs (1,200m) in the Ahwhofah Sprint on December 11 could be a sign of better things to come from Blue Vinyl.
In the Ahwhofah, Blue Vinyl took over the lead going into the half-mile turn but was simply outdone by I’ve Got Magic in the end, losing out by three and a half lengths at the wire in a time of 1:13.1.
The three-year-old and upward Overnight Allowance contest will be contested over one mile (1,600m) and is positioned as the ninth race on the card with a post time of 4:15 pm. First race is at 11:30 am.
Blue Vinyl is more effective over this distance, and given his running style he could fight this out successfully. Blue Vinyl won the 2000 Guineas over today’s distance by 11 lengths in a time of 1:37.4, the fastest time achieved by any of the other runners in recent times.
Bred by Bern Identity out of the Haynesfield mare Blufiled, Blue Vinyl will have Shane Ellis once again in the irons at top weight of 57.0 kgs (16 lb). Note: Blue Vinyl races with the blinkers on.
Crimson, trained by Gary Subratie, should be the main and only threat to Blue Vinyl here. The Nuclear Wayne–Sarah Barracuda offspring lost his rider when navigating the clubhouse turn in the Chairman’s Plate over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) on December 3.
Crimson is a much better animal than these in back class, but a string of disappointing efforts had hampered his progress as a six-year-old. Crimson is talented and could destroy these with minimum fuss.
Of the others in the 11-horse field, Positive ID, Curlin’s Affair, and Big Big Daddy are horses that can have a say in the outcome of this race.
Positive ID, from the stables of Michael Marlowe, finished a good fourth by 5½ lengths in the recent Chairman’s Plate over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m). Positive ID should go well travelling one mile, and given his rattle in deep stretch, he should run well enough for a slice of the pie.
Trained by Anthony Nunes, Positive ID was never a factor in the recent Port Royal Sprint when finishing down the track. Curlin’s Affair should enjoy this mild pace and is expected to run a much-improved race.
Big Big Daddy, also trained by Subratie, is a consistent campaigner who is finding it hard to get to the winning post in this grade. Big Big Daddy was a length and a half behind Laban over seven furlongs (1,400m) on November 20, and with that encouraging run he could possibly earn for his connections.
Meanwhile, six juveniles are down to take part in the $1.09-million Dye Job Sprint, a Restricted Stakes contest for native-bred and imported two year olds over six furlongs. Is That A Fact and Sister Treasure should compete head to head in the race. Sistren Treasure, the more experienced of the two with two starts, is tipped to win.
The $1.01-million Andrew HB Memorial Cup is the other trophy race to be contested on the day. The maiden special weight event for native-bred two-year-old should see Jason DaCosta’s Uncharter being unsaddled in the winners’ enclosure.
Ones to watch
Race 1) Silent Cat/My Mom Juss/Ali
Race 2) Stanislaus/Blu Attitude/Ultimatum
Race 3) Sistren Treasure/Is That A Fact/Rejected Raja
Race 4) Babylike/G T Boy/Salute The Deputy
Race 5) Asurety/Northern Lady/Call The Emperor
Race 6) Always Vigorous/No Surrender/ZD Eye
Race 7) Hecandance/Faukland/Olde Wharf
Race 8) Uncharter/Rhythm Buzz/All For Love
Race 9) Blue Vinyl/Crimson/Curlin’s Affair
Race 10) Simba The Lion/Zion/Silver Fox