Blue Vinyl the one to beat in 2000 Guineas
BLUE VINYL couldn’t have worked any better for Sunday’s 2000 Guineas at a mile, galloping the distance out the chute in 1:43.4, the last seven in 1:30.2, signalling that he is ready to outstay his peers, who are all suspect at the trip.
Though sitting level at 126lb with the Guineas field after winning the May 8 Kingston at seven and a half furlongs, carrying 115lb, BLUE VINYL really has nothing to quarrel about, considering runner-up PERFECT BREW and the third-place horse, since-deceased SUPREME SONG, also had 115lb apiece.
EMPEROROFTHECATS, who finished fourth with topweight 126lb in the Kingston, had his stamina limitations exposed at the longer trip, after just hanging on from slow-starting BLUE VINYL in April’s seven-furlong Prince Consort Stakes.
All things being equal, which they pretty much appear to be, BLUE VINYL, a full brother to Anthony Nunes’ BERN NOTICE, should be the horse to beat after his two-and-threequarter-length win over PERFECT BREW in the Kingston.
What was particularly impressive about BLUE VINYL was that he broke sharply to actually dispute the lead with EMPEROROFTHECATS and KP CHOICE to the half-mile marker, before Raddesh Roman took precaution heading into the turn, backing his mount out of potential trouble along the rail.
When asked to make a bid approaching the three-pole, BLUE VINYL readily quickened to go in chase of EMPEROROFTHECATS and NOMOREDEALS, collaring them off the turn, while BRINKS straightened wide and PERFECT BREW cut the corner to launch a challenge a furlong and a half out.
From there, BLUE VINYL was simply the best horse coming up the lane, pulling off from PERFECT BREW, who held off late-closing SUPREME SONG by a head. The cast hasn’t changed much, with the exception of RUMPUNCHER, YELLOWSTONE, UNRULY DUDE and MORIMOTO, all winners last time out, joining the fray.
Nunes’ MORIMOTO is on a hattrick, having won his last two starts from three outings. He appears to be a staying sort, having put away NOMORDEALS at seven furlongs two Sundays ago. Robert Halledeen appeared to be toying on the lead before rousing the Casual TrickLuckybegood colt inside the final furlong, stopping the clock in 1:27.4, still a far cry from the 1:27.0 in which EMPEROROFTHECATS had won April’s Prince Consort.
BLUE VINYL’s class should prevail but it should be noted that he lost the Sir Howard Stakes with topweight 126lb and tends to be a bit finicky while being loaded into the gate, which contributed to him being slowly away and losing the Prince Consort. It wouldn’t hurt to stick MORIMOTO on those exotic bets as a backup.