The 2025 campaign proved testing for Blue Vinyl, the former 2000 Guineas and St Leger champion. Plagued by setbacks, the chestnut son of Bern Identity and Blufield managed only one win from nine starts, that lone success coming on July 9.
His final outing before the Chairman’s Plate was the seven-furlong Gold Cup on October 4, where he laboured home in eighth, trailing Legacy Isle by eleven lengths.
The Chairman’s Plate, staged on December 6, 2025, as part of the prestigious Mouttet Mile Race Day, is an Overnight Allowance event for horses three years and older, contested over nine furlongs and 25 yards. This time, everything aligned for Blue Vinyl, trainer Gary Subratie, and rider Raddesh Roman. The seasoned campaigner rediscovered his brilliance, storming to a four-length triumph in 1:57.2.
“The Gold Cup was just a prep run to keep him sharp. He had already won an Overnight Allowance earlier this year, and his work leading into this race was encouraging,” Subratie explained. “He was finally able to train properly, which wasn’t the case before. Raddesh gave him a flawless ride—I didn’t need to say much, just told him to let the horse run his race. It was a strong effort,” the trainer added.
Breaking from mid-division, Blue Vinyl bided his time as I Dream Again (Robert Halledeen) and Unruly Mo (Dick Cardenas) vied for the early lead around the clubhouse bend. Neo Star (Emisael Jaramillo) and Run Julie Run (Javier Castellano) pressed forward down the backstretch, while Blue Vinyl steadily advanced, stride by stride. Swinging into the half-mile turn, he surged with authority, sweeping past rivals. In the stretch, he powered clear, leaving no doubt, and crossed the line comfortably ahead of Sheer Delight (Christopher Mamdeen) and Provident (Tevin Foster).
