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Trainer James Cummings to unleash star three-year-old colt Cylinder in Group 3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday

Trainer James Cummings will unleash star three-year-old colt Cylinder in the Group 3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Cylinder won the Group 2 Todman Stakes in Sydney last March. Picture: Jeremy Ng–Getty Images
Cylinder won the Group 2 Todman Stakes in Sydney last March. Picture: Jeremy Ng–Getty Images

Trainer James Cummings has supercharged Saturday’s Group 3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield with the inclusion of Godolphin’s rockstar colt and Golden Slipper runner-up Cylinder.

Cummings planned to run Barber and potentially Amur in the 1100m contest but the “terrific” progress of dual Group 2 winner Cylinder forced a change of mind.

“He’s ready to go,” Cummings declared.

“He’s come back terrific, Blake Shinn will ride him next weekend, and hopefully he’ll hit the ground running … Cylinder will be hard to beat in the Vain.”

Cylinder is $11 in TAB’s early market for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14 and $8 equal second elect for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 4.

The Silver Slipper and Todman winner is also $8 for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) next month at Rosehill.

Cylinder has built fitness with trial wins at Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm respectively the past month.

Cummings, in Melbourne on Saturday to collect the Victorian Racehorse of the Year award for Cox Plate champion Anamoe, won the Vain previously with Ingratiating (2021) and Bivouac (2019).

The Coolmore remains an ultimate spring goal for Cylinder with Cummings focused on trying to win the $2m sprint back-to-back after superstar filly In Secret reigned supreme last year.

“I want to kick him off (in the Vain) and set the rest of his prep up and keep our options open,” Cummings said.

“It (Coolmore) would be a significant race for his (stud) career, there is a focus around that.

“We’ll see if he’s good enough to get up to that.”

Cylinder’s inclusion sets up a tantalising early three-year-old clash at Caulfield with Blue Diamond winner Little Brose among probable Vain starters, along with the untapped and unbeaten colts Scheelite and I Am Unstoppable.

Little Brose won a jumpout at Flemington last Monday, while Scheelite placed second in an 800m pipe-owner at Cranbourne on the same day.

I Am Unstoppable finished second in an 800m jumpout at Cranbourne behind Charm Stone.

Other potential Vain entries include Veecee, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, and Ouroboros, a last start Caulfield winner for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.

Giga Kick won the Vain Stakes last year for Clayton Douglas before going on to win the Danehill Stakes and The Everest in subsequent starts.

Originally published as Trainer James Cummings to unleash star three-year-old colt Cylinder in Group 3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/trainer-james-cummings-to-unleash-star-threeyearold-colt-cylinder-in-group-3-vain-stakes-at-caulfield-on-saturday/news-story/01a354c8fd2166a3d7556dac07425828