Back-to-form Blue Vinyl a tough act to follow

BLUE VINYL returned off a well-deserved four-month-break to outclass old rival BRINKS at six and a half furlongs, confirming that he was out-of-class among non-winners of an overnight allowance, having finished five and a half lengths off the winner in December’s grade-one Mouttet Mile.

Returning sharper for Saturday’s Jamaica Veterinary Board World Vet Day feature at a mile, the trip at which he clocked 1:37.4 when winning last year’s 2000 Guineas by nine lengths, back-to-form BLUE VINYL will be a tough act to follow with only 119lb.

After ducking under the clockers’ radar with a sneaky half-mile in 48.2 heading into his comeback race, the April 15 Temperence Oaks Trophy, causing a speculative king’s ransom of 9-5 at the tote, BLUE VINYL returns tuned in 1:14.4 for six furlongs – an ominous sign for his 12 rivals.

Having chased BRINKS off the lead in the Temperence Oaks, drifting in the stretch run, but still pulling away at the end, BLUE VINYL showed that he has lost none of his spunk, which should see him getting the better of the four-year-olds in the line-up – PERFECT BREW, D HEAD CORNERSTONE, I REALISE, and OUTBIDDER – none of whom were any match for him in last year’s three-year-old classic races.

A careful analysis of BLUE VINYL’s record against older horses shows that he can be forgiven for almost every loss after placing third behind ATOMICA in the Jamaica Derby at 12 furlongs last August.

SUICIDE MOVE

Following his third-place derby finish, trying to match ATOMICA stride-for-stride, BLUE VINYL returned in open allowance almost three months later, rearing at the start going five furlongs, a suicide move against run-on sprinters DUKE and LABAN.

With no horse stepping up to chase ATOMICA in the Jamaica Cup at nine and a half furlongs in November, BLUE VINYL was burnt on the lead by the speedy filly, staying second to the furlong pole before weakening into fifth.

By Mouttet Mile Day, BLUE VINYL was a tired horse, drawn widest in a 16-horse field comprising the best runners in the country. Nevertheless, he was noted plugging away wide of runners in the stretch run, a brave display, finishing five and a half lengths behind winner EXCESSIVE FORCE.

For some odd reason, trainer Patrick Lynch sent BLUE VINYL back to the wicket twice in December, completing 31.5 furlongs in five weeks, to which the then three-year-old colt responded with underwhelming performances before being given a break.

Monday’s 1:14.4 out the mile chute, following his return victory against BRINKS, whose previous race was a strong second behind crack sprinter MADELYN’S SUNSHINE 1:05.3 at five and a half furlongs, suggests BLUE VINYL is back to his best.