Afternoon stroll for Blue Vinyl

BLUE VINYL yesterday made hacks of overnight-allowance horses for the third time in five months, winning the nine-furlong and 25 yards Kenneth Mattis Memorial for trainer Al Brown under a hand ride from Javaniel Patterson.

Fourth among open-allowance runners in May, an event grade-one RUNAWAY ALGO romped by 11 lengths, last year’s St Leger winner BLUE VINYL coasted home three and a quarter lengths clear of SUNSET SILHOUTTE in what appeared a routine exercise gallop for the colt, who denied ATOMICA last year’s Triple Crown honours when taking orders from Patrick Lynch.

Clocking 1:57.0 for the trip out of his new barn, BLUE VINYL was hardly asked a serious question by Patterson, first stalking INSPIRED MIRACLE on the far side before STOMP THE RHYTHM made an ambitious half-mile bid for the lead.

No sooner had STOMP THE RHYTHM blew past INSPIRED MIRACLE, BLUE VINYL was on to him in a flash, effortlessly taking charge two and a half furlongs out before staying on with minimum fuss, flattering a closing SUNSET SILHOUTTE.

Champion jockey Dane Dawkins lit up the nine-race card with four winners, taking his weekend tally to six, moving him to within 11 wins of leader Reyan Lewis, who failed to visit the winners’ enclosure for a second consecutive meet.

Dawkins scored convincing wins aboard COOKIE DAY N NIGHT, NORBLAR and UNRULY DUDE in the third, fourth, and sixth events, respectively, before closing the card with a rail-run aboard the grey AIRSTREAM, outfinishing XCEPTIONAL BABZ, who was carried very wide off the home turn when challenging backstretch leader MAGGIE’S BOY.

Racing continues on Saturday.