KINGSTON, Jamaica - With the season’s first two Classics, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, just days away, the top contenders competing in both contests completed their final phase of their preparation for the June 4 and 5 events, respectively.
The 1000 Guineas is to be contested by native-bred three-year-old fillies only, over one mile (1,600m), with the top choices being Atomica, Golden Wattle, Silent Mission, Our Angel, and Nefertari.
Atomica, trained by Gary Subratie, is unbeaten in four career starts, with two of those wins coming in the Thornbird Stakes and The Portmore. In her latest exercise spins, Atomica, on Sunday, May 22, galloped six furlongs in a time of 1:22.2. The hot Guineas favourite ended her gallop preparation on Sunday, May 29, clocking 1:16.2 for six furlongs. Dane Dawkins is in the saddle again.
Golden Wattle, who is the champion two-year-old of last season, is yet to taste victory in three starts in 2022. Following her third-place finish by 12 ¾ lengths to Madelyn’s Sunshine over 6 ½ furlongs on Saturday, May 21, Golden Wattle returned to exercise (hacked) the next morning. Then on Saturday (May 28), she galloped six furlongs in 1:17.0. Regular rider Tevin Foster will hold the reins in the 1000.
Silent Mission was smooth in her gallop on Sunday, May 22. The filly, galloped in the blinkers, clocking 1:16.2 for six furlongs, working alongside stablemate Sunset Silhoutte (1:16.4). Then, in her final gallop on Saturday (May 28), Silent Mission covered six furlongs in 1:17.0.
The hard-knocking Our Angel (tongue-tie on) galloped four furlongs (800m) in 50.1 seconds last week Sunday morning, followed one week later by a six-furlong galloped timed of 1:16.4 seconds.
Nefertari, galloping in the visor and tongue on, covered four furlongs in a time of 52.0 seconds on Saturday, May 21. The Anthony Nunes-trainee then clocked 1:17.2 in her final six-furlong gallop on Saturday, May 28.
In the colts and geldings 2000 Guineas, leading the way are Emperorofthecats, Blue Vinyl, Perfect Brew, Tekapunt, Brinks, and Morimoto.
Winner of the Prince Consort Stakes, Emperorofthecats, sounded the alarm by galloping a fast 59.2 seconds coming down the five-furlong straight chute on Saturday, May 21. The Carl Anderson-owned, trained, and bred Emperorofthecats then followed up on that smart gallop on Monday (May 30) with a seven-furlong clocking of 1:29.1.
Blue Vinyl, the winner of the major prep event The Kingston (7 ½ furlongs), on Sunday, May 22 galloped three furlongs (600m) in a time of 35.2 wearing the blinkers. Blue Vinyl was then stretched out by his trainer Patrick Lynch (Sunday, May 29) over a mile, finishing in a time of 1:43.2 for his final 2000 Guineas gallop.
The Richard Azan-trained Perfect Brew, considered by many to be one of the leading 2000 contenders, was timed in 1:31.2 seconds for seven furlongs on Saturday, May 21. Then on Sunday (May 29), in an eye-catching gallop, Perfect Brew was clocked at 1:14.3 for six furlongs.
Brinks, the champion male two-year-old of last season, who hails from the shedrow of Ian Parsard, has been winless in 2022, but is still considered to be among the top 2000 horses. Brinks, however, is doubtful to start in the 2000 in what is a wait-and-see situation by the connections. If Brinks does start, Dane Dawkins is booked to ride, while Parsard’s other entry, The Citadel, should see Reyan Lewis mounting up. The Citadel galloped six furlongs yesterday clocking 1:19.0.
Tekapunt, the winner of the six-furlong Sir Howard Stakes, trained by Jason DaCosta, has been quietly going about his business in the mornings. Tekapunt galloped five-and-a-half furlongs (Saturday, May 21), and was clocked in a time of 1:09.2.
Morimoto the main representative of champion trainer Anthony Nunes, yesterday went six furlongs and was timed in 1:17.3 seconds.
The morning line odds have Atomica as the overwhelming favourite at on to win the 1000, while Blue Vinyl and Emperorofthecats are locked at 9/5 for success in the 2000.
