Cylinder primed for Golden Slipper after tough Todman Stakes victory

Cylinder franked his presence in the G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens for two-year-olds in a fortnight and set up a possible bonus when he won at Royal Randwick in Sydney on Saturday.

Cylinder, ridden by champion jockey James McDonald, mowed down race favourite Red Resistance in the G2 Todman Stakes (1,200m), winning by three-quarters of a length. Militarize was nearly three lengths away in third place.

The Exceed And Excel colt spelled before returning to win the G2 Silver Slipper (1,100m) at Rosehill Gardens on 18 February.

Cylinder, who took his record to two wins and two placings from four starts, added the Todman as the second leg.

Winning the Golden Slipper will seal the three-race bonus.

Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings was delighted with Cylinder’s performance and hinted the youngster could even be better in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds. 

“I love the fact he brings the A+ form into the Golden Slipper and he’s a very classy colt who is going to give himself every opportunity in the hardest test of all in two weeks,” Cummings said.

“He improved from his first run to his second, he did the same this preparation and this will be the first time he’s gone third-up in a campaign.

“Who knows? But we’ve set it up that way and he looks to be peaking at the right time.”

Cummings could have up to four of five runners in the Slipper - with Corniche, Barber, Zulfiqar and Exploring also possible starters.

Cylinder stopped the clock on Saturday at 1min 9.7sec on the Soft 6 surface, including a sub-34sec last last 600m split.

Godolphin also won the Todman Stakes in 2021 before their horse was an unlucky second in the Slipper.

“We won this race a couple of years ago with Anamoe, it’s a good horse’s race,” Cummings said.

“Cylinder is going to take the A1 form into the Slipper after winning the Silver Slipper and the Todman.

“This horse is doing everything right, he’s improved from his first-up run, what more could you ask?”

McDonald was also impressed with Cylinder, although he is yet to lock in his Golden Slipper mount.

“I feel he’s got improvement to come,” the champion rider said.

“He was second-up, he had that grounding work done back in the spring.

“He sets up beautifully and his work seems to be getting stronger and stronger.”