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| Staff Writer |
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Trainer James Cummings is confident that his talented colt, Cylinder, has what it takes to be a serious contender in the TAB Everest. As Godolphin's top seed, In Secret, prepares for another important race at Royal Randwick this Saturday, Cylinder has been making waves with his impressive performances.
After a triumphant win in the Gr.3 Vain Stakes, Cylinder followed it up with a remarkable display in the Group two Run To The Rose last Saturday. His flawless start to the spring has caught the attention of racing enthusiasts and the Godolphin team alike.
While a highly anticipated clash with the Group one Golden Rose awaits Cylinder, there is growing interest in the possibility of him competing in The Everest. Godolphin, known for their international success in racing and breeding, has warmed up to the idea of unleashing this talented son of Exceed And Excel in the prestigious sprint feature.
Word has spread that at least one slot-holder has reached out to Godolphin, expressing their interest in having Cylinder as a participant in The Everest. It is highly likely that he will be joined by his stablemate, In Secret, making it a formidable duo representing the renowned Godolphin colors.
"He didn't make life any harder (winning last week), he made our life easier," Cummings said.
"The more races he wins, the better it is. We are seeing In Secret as our No.1 seed.
"That's obvious to us, provided she is fit and well as long as everything goes to plan.
"It's not impossible that someone with a slot to fill are going be looking at classy sprinters like Cylinder as legitimate contenders for their slot and I think they are justified in doing so."
Cylinder and In Secret have both been securely kept in The Everest betting. However, there is a chance that In Secret's odds could decrease if she performs well in the upcoming Group two A$1 million race, The Shorts, which spans 1100 meters.
In Secret, with the talented apprentice Zac Lloyd as her jockey, is prepared to face off against numerous strong contenders in this sprint challenge. Among them are Mazu, Lost And Running, Private Eye, Buenos Noches, Remarque, Overpass, and Hawaii Five Oh.
Despite the tough competition, In Secret maintains her position as the firm favorite for The Shorts, with odds of A$3. This is due to her impressive comeback performance, where she narrowly finished second to Remarque in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes, spanning 1000 meters.
"It was a great credit to In Secret, the 1000m might have been too short for her but she was only beaten by one and she laid up in the race comfortably close to her opposition and her finish to the race was outstanding," Cummings said.
"When a classy mare like Bella Nipotina was able to head her and yet she battled back to beat her on the line goes to show what sort of form she is in.
"We've been pleased with her since and yet we are making no secret to have her perfect for next month."
In the upcoming sprint race known as The Shorts, Godolphin's standout performer is undoubtedly In Secret. However, joining In Secret in the race will be stablemate Athelric. It must be acknowledged that Athelric, priced at A$51, has been assigned a difficult task of winning the main event. Nevertheless, Cummings is optimistic about Athelric's preparation for his return and believes that this son of Exceed And Excel is ready to perform well.
"We are so pleased with the way the horse is going," Cummings said.
"He is not that far out of the weights with the rating that he has earnt but he would be a bolter from the blue."
Jean Van Overmeire will be riding Athelric in the Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and will also team up with talented filly Zardozi. Zardozi is looking to regain her best form after a disappointing performance in the Gr.2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m), where she only managed to beat one runner home.
"We need to get her back in the game so that's what the Tea Rose is about," Cummings said.