Cylinder Beach fires first-up in Gunsynd Quality for proud Desleigh Forster

DESLEIGH Forster labelled it the most satisfying moment of her training career as Cylinder Beach denied stablemate Too Good To Refuse in a thrilling Gunsynd Quality.

Trainer Desleigh Forster with Cylinder Beach. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

DESLEIGH Forster fought back tears and labelled it the most satisfying moment of her training career as comeback horse Cylinder Beach denied stablemate Too Good To Refuse at Doomben on Saturday.

With 179 days since he last raced, Cylinder Beach showcased a brilliant training feat by Forster in winning the Group 3 mile event first-up.

“He’s a good horse. All jokes aside, he probably should have won a Group 1 race last winter,” she said.

“I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world to have these horses at the moment.”

Forster, who celebrates her birthday on Sunday, predicted huge improvement to come from Cylinder Beach as he heads towards the Queensland Derby.

“They can bring whatever they like from down south, but they won’t beat Cylinder Beach in the Derby,” she said.

“I could have probably patched him up and taken him to Sydney (for an ATC Derby campaign) but I decided to wait and give him every chance to win a big one here in his home town.”

Forster also praised the BRC, in particular Eagle Farm track manager Sean Bridges, who have allowed her to use the new course proper for a number of exhibition gallops in getting Cylinder Beach fit enough to win fresh.

Cylinder Beach edges out stablemate Too Good To Refuse in the Gunsynd Classic. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Michael Cahill said he was “kind” to Cylinder Beach in the run to the line and has no doubts he’s a genuine Derby prospect.

“You look at his pedigree and there’s a Sydney Cup winner close up and he gives me the impression he will run a trip,” Cahill said. “He was a touch keen today, but that was probably more to do with him having not raced for so long.

“It was a great training effort to have him winning first up at the mile.”

Ryan Wiggins had a hard luck tale for connections of Too Good To Refuse, who had a chequered passage up the straight before almost gathering in his stablemate late.

“He really sprouted wings. He can win a Group 1 this horse and I just hope I’m the one on him when he does,” Wiggins said.

Havasay was the best backed runner in the race and ran well, but was no match for the first pair.

Sydney filly Tap This was also well-tried and looked hard to beat on the turn, but Blake Spriggs couldn’t find clear running and she went to the line untested.

Cylinder Beach completed a winning double for Cahill after his earlier success on Cashing Up.

“He’s a better horse now than what he was in the summer,” Cahill said of Cashing Up.

“The runs came at the right time, but I had to change course. I was going to go between them, but then Jeff Lloyd’s mount (Fiery Heights) came out and I had to switch back to the inside.

Originally published as Cylinder Beach fires first-up in Gunsynd Quality for proud Desleigh Forster