Cylinder firing ahead of Vain return

One of the things Cylinder has in common with Anamoe is that he finished second in the Golden Slipper, but it is other horses who also carried the Godolphin blue that he has earned comparisons with.

That is a big reason why the son of Exceed And Excel is lining up in Saturday’s $200,000 Vain Stakes at Caulfield.

The 1100-metre Group 3 is a race Cylinder’s trainer James Cummings has used as a successful spring launch pad in the past, which is why Godolphin Australia general manager Vin Cox was not shocked to hear that was where he was headed.

“The parallels between this horse and our other colts that have come through the Vain are very strong,” Cox said.

“Trainers are creatures of habit and the colt James puts through the Vain tends to be a pretty solid horse.

“Clearly, and rightly, James has a very high opinion of him, the training team has a very high opinion of him, so we look forward to what might lie ahead in the spring.”

Cummings’ first Vain starter as head trainer at Godolphin was Veranillo, who could manage only seventh in the edition won by Jukebox, but two runners since were winners Bivouac and Ingratiating.

Bivouac went on to win the Golden Rose and finish second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes later in the campaign, returned next preparation to win the Newmarket Handicap and as a four-year-old won the race now known as the Champions Sprint.

He, like Cylinder, is a son of Exceed And Excel.

Like Anamoe, Cylinder was a winner of the Group 2 Todman Stakes the start before his Slipper placing.

Anamoe went on to win nine Group 1s and Cylinder’s entire campaign will be geared around making him a Group 1 winner and Cox is confident he has come back well enough to be directed towards the key three-year-old sprints this campaign.

He impressively won two trials leading up to his return, the first at Hawkesbury on July 17 and another at Warwick Farm on August 4.

“He’s matured up really well and the team’s extremely happy with him,” Cox said.

“There’s some unfinished business in terms of a Group One victory to tick off, so we hope we can do it.”

Cylinder, who will be ridden by Blake Shinn, will start from the outside barrier in the seven-horse Vain Stakes, which also includes Blue Diamond winner Little Brose and unbeaten colts I Am Unstoppable and Scheelite.