DaCosta holds key to 2000 Guineas

STARDOM’s victory in the Kingston at seven and a half furlongs must be carefully measured under the circumstances of how the event unfolded, especially the terrible performance of ante-post favourite WE JAMMIN whose absence from Sunday’s 2000 Guineas could lead to another stunning result.

Gary Subratie’s  one-two-three finish in the Kingston with STARDOM, SALUTE THE DON, and GOD’S PLAN is unlikely to be replicated in the one-mile Guineas, which will have new pace players led by David Powell’s SUPER DAVID, who returns treated with lasix after losing the Monday Morning to STRONG AVEENU, and Jason DaCosta’s dangerous-looking EYE OF THE TIGER.

SALUTE THE DON will try dominating the pace but has proven that he is susceptible to folding when eyeballed by matching speed, which was WE JAMMIN’s playbook in last December’s Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes and the Prince Consort Stakes when they met as three-year-olds in April.

SALUTE THE DON might appear to have improved in the Kingston, shrugging off rivals, WE JAMMIN included, before STARDOM came charging late along the rail. However, it was WE JAMMIN’s ailment, which has sidelined him, that made SALUTE THE DON appear invincible on the lead in the Kingston, which he eventually surrendered to STARDOM close home.

In other words, SALUTE THE DON ran his normal race and was caught late by STARDOM whereas had WE JAMMIN been at his best, the race would have been over much earlier.

Subratie has summoned Raddesh Roman to replace journeyman Ian Spence aboard SALUTE THE DON, hoping the two-time champion jockey gives the Aveenu Malcainu-Abicadabby speedster every chance of staying the trip against his bred–to-stay stablemate, STARDOM, a full brother to CALCULUS with whom he had won the 2021 Jamaica Derby and St Leger.

Despite STARDOM’s staying pedigree, sustained pace at a mile could leave him flat-footed, especially if SALUTE THE DON is harassed and gives way to any of the unproven runners, whose connections are quietly savouring their chances.

Lasix could transform SUPER DAVID, who showed grit, rallying after being overhauled by STRONG AVEENU at seven furlongs. Patrick Lynch’s runners are known to return better with each run, suggesting that imposing STRONG AVEENU could be anything in theeh making.

However, the horse that has caught the eye at exercise is EYE OF THE TIGER after his almost nonchalant maiden win, clocking 59.4 with female rider Abigail Able a mere passenger.

Since then, EYE OF THE TIGER, one of four Aveenu Malcainu-sired runners in the Guineas, has been nothing but spectacular at exercise, posting a scorching 1:26.3 for seven furlongs last Sunday, the fastest time at the trip for the weekend.

If EYE OF THE TIGER stays a mile, Subratie’s trio will be in major problems.