Pre-race favourites well-positioned for Classic
The draw for post positions for Sunday’s BetMakers Technology Group-sponsored Classic, the 48th running of the Jamaica 2000 Guineas races, took place at Caymanas Park on Wednesday with the ante-post favourites well positioned.
The 2000 Guineas is for native-bred colts and geldings which will run over one mile (1,600m). The Grade One event commands a purse of $3.75 million.
Hall of Fame trainer Richard Azan and Ian Parsard both will saddle two runners each in the 12-horse field, while other trainers has one entry each.
Azan’s runners are Rum Puncher, who drew post four with Phillip Parchment in the saddle, and Perfect Brew, who will be breaking from the number 11 barrier with Dick Cardenas in the irons. Perfect Brew is the likely one that will carry the flag for Azan after his second-place finish behind Blue Vinyl in The Kingston recently.
Parsard runners are Brinks at five with Reyan Lewis and The Citadel at seven with Dane Dawkins. Both horses are not expected to be among the front-runners here.
Morning line favourite Blue Vinyl drew post one and will again be ridden by Raddseh Roman. Blue Vinyl became the leader of the pack after his strong 3¼-length win in The Kingston over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m) on May 8, 2022. Blue Vinyl won the event in a time of 1:32.4 which was a new Stakes record.
The Prince Consort winner and one of the top contenders Emperorofthecats drew post four with Bebeto Harvey in the irons.
Champion trainer Anthony Nunes will watch his charge Morimoto run from post 10 with Robert Halledeen doing riding honorus.
Interestingly, current leading trainer Jason DaCosta has no runner in the 2000 Guineas as well Gary Subratie.
Gresford Smith, who will saddle Nomoredeals in the event, said that he was happy with the draw for his
“Perfect draw, I wanted the number six and I got the number six and so I just need him [Nomoredeals] to perform on the day. He has been training pretty good for the race and the jockey is comfortable with him and so far, everything has been going well.
“Well, that was a good indicator that we are basically on the right path and so we hope to rise to the occasion. I don’t see anything wrong with the journey, it is just assessing the race well,” Smith told the Jamaica Observer.
Full field:
HORSEWEIGHTJOCKEYTRAINER
1. Blue Vinyl57.0kgsRaddesh RomanPatrick Lynch
2. KP Choice57.0kgAndre PowellPhillip Lee
3. Rum Puncher57.0kgsPhillip ParchmentRichard Azan
4. Emperorofthecats57.0kgsBebto HarveyCarl Anderson
5. Brinks57.0kgsReyan LewisIan Parsard
6. Nomoredeals57.0kgsPaul FrancisGresford Smith
7. The Citadel57.0kgsDane DawkinsIan Parsard
8. Unruly Dude57.0kgs Tevin FosterDennis Pryce
9. Power57.0kgsOmar WalkerPhilip Feanny
10. Morimoto57.0kgsRobert Halledeen Anthony Nunes
11. Perfect Brew57.0kgsDick Cardenas Richard Azan
12. Yellowstone57.0kgs Anthony ThomasAlford Brown