One more grand final for smart Godolphin colt Cylinder in Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington
Can top Godolphin colt Cylinder “go to the well one more time” in Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington?
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Godolphin colt Cylinder can smash open the door to millions of dollars with one final effort in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.
Cylinder has gone close to securing his future at Godolphin’s breeding arm Darley with placings in the stallion-making Golden Slipper and Golden Rose this year.
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But winning the Coolmore Stakes will seal the deal for the son of Exceed And Excel.
Cylinder also stood up at his first test against older horses when fifth to Think About It in The Everest on October 14.
But he drops back to three-year-old company in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Jockey Tim Clark has the task of guiding Cylinder to his maiden Group 1 win and Godolphin’s second consecutive Coolmore Stud Stakes win after the racing giant won with In Secret last year.
$20 million will make you THINK ABOUT IT!
— TVG (@TVG) October 14, 2023
Trainer Joseph Pride's 5-year-old So You Think gelding took down The Everest at Royal Randwick (@aus_turf_club) | @SkyRacingWorld. A perfect ride by Sam Clipperton to hold off I Wish I Win! Congrats to the connections! pic.twitter.com/dqMq1IhVOh
Clark noted Cylinder has performed well in tough contests at his last two outings but needed to produce a similar effort if was to secure the vital win.
“I think the horse is obviously going great this preparation and his run in The Everest was terrific,” Clark said.
• Tony Brassel’s top five for the Victoria Derby
“That was on the back of some brilliant runs leading into that.
“He’s in great form but he’s had a bit of racing and a couple of grand finals.
“It’s just a matter of going to the well one more time.”
The Golden Rose has produced five recent winners of the Coolmore Stud Stakes while another four winners of the feature sprint took on older horses at the last runs before the $2 million event.
The James Cummings-trained Cylinder has come through both races, increasing Clark’s confidence in the colt notching his fifth win in 11 starts.
“Hopefully he can repeat his last-start performance and if he can, I think that is going to be good enough to win on Saturday,” Clark said.
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Cummings decided to remove blinkers from Cylinder for the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Clark suggested punters shouldn’t read much into that gear change.
“He had them on last start when coming back from the 1400m to the 1200m but I think he’s a very genuine colt and he doesn’t really need them,” Clark said.
Cylinder was initially well-backed in early betting on the event but has found his place at $4.60 in TAB’s latest market.
The Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Angel, the winner of the Group 2 Danehill Stakes down the straight, has firmed from $15 to $8.50.
Originally published as One more grand final for smart Godolphin colt Cylinder in Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington
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