He bumped into one better in the Golden Slipper but Cylinder will get the chance to finish his two-year-old season as a Group 1 winner when he lines up in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
The colt was run down late by Shinzo in Australia’s premier juvenile race, but James Cummings felt he was still strong to the line and comfortably held the rest of the field.
That performance has given him confidence Cylinder can extend his brilliance to 1400 metres on Saturday when he attempts to emulate another youngster Cummings trained to win the corresponding race in 2019.
“We won the race a few years ago with another Exceed And Excel colt called Microphone, and he’s (Cylinder) out of a Street Cry mare who won up to a mile at Flemington,” Cummings said.
“He was very strong on the line in the Golden Slipper in a high-pressure, six-furlong event.
“Cylinder shot to the front at the 300 and was holding the rest safely.
“He’s had the right grounding, he’s beautifully bred for the race and it’s a pretty important Group One opportunity for this colt to establish his future on the roster at Kelvinside.”
Punters agree and Cylinder is a solid $2.25 favourite from an ideal draw in barrier four.
The fourth and fifth horses home in the Slipper, Don Corleone and Empire Of Japan, are also lining up at Randwick and are $7.50 and $18 respectively, while undefeated Victorian Veight is regarded as the biggest threat as a $5.50 chance.