The Godolphin team look in with a genuine shot at this year’s Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) with their progressive Exceed And Excel colt Cylinder winning the 2023 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

2023 Silver Slipper Stakes winner Cylinder is into the Golden Slipper field for Godolphin. Photo: Steve Hart.

The well-bred two-year-old did all the work chasing the leading filly Platinum Jubilee throughout in this year’s Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) before knuckling down and getting the upper hand over her in the final 50m.

Jockey Brenton Avdulla timed his run to perfection on the up-and-coming Cylinder ($4.60) who settled second in the run after jumping away well from his inside alley and then wearing down the front runner in the closing stages for a strong win on way to the big one.

“We’re cooking with gas with this one. He is just loaded with ability,” Cummings told the media post-win.

“First-up at his second preparation, that’s a damn good sign from this colt. They kept him in the barriers long enough in that small field there just to test him out, but he got back on all fours and he was quickly away, good pace in the race.

“I will be interested in how the time stacks up against the older handicappers in the race before and how the horse rates, there were some big names in there.”

The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained favourite King’s Gambit was also on speed in third racing fiercely and was not without his chances.

In the end Cylinder was too strong finishing just ahead of the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Zoustar filly Platinum Jubilee who was running for the first time since her second at the Gold Coast in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) last month.

“Another really brave effort from her again. She is a very tenacious filly. She is going well,” Platinum Jubilee’s jockey Tim Clark said after the run. 

King’s Gambit finished under a length back third to complete the Silver Slipper Stakes trifecta.

“Really nice horse. Probably not quite there yet. He’s a lovely horse. He’s run well today. I couldn’t find any excuses,” jockey Nash Rawiller said after jumping off the beaten favourite.

It was a nice first-up performance from Cylinder who celebrated his maiden win at career start number three following back-to-back seconds in the Max Lees Classic at Newcastle and the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes at Caulfield last time in.

“I think he’s a good quality colt and he’s been excellently prepared,” winning hoop Avdulla said.

“He had duck eggs from two in away, but he probably should have been undefeated with a bit of luck and it’s not ideal that they run with a fractured jaw out of the barriers and still be hard to beat.

“His trial was good, James gave him a good push through the week and again this morning James said ‘ride him positive, ride him confident because he’s quite  good colt’ and I think they’re right.”

With the win the colt earned a ballot free ride into the 2023 Golden Slipper Stakes back at Rosehill on March 18.

Trainer James Cummings will be vying for his second Slipper trophy following his 2019 victory with Kiamichi.

“He has developed, he’s grown a bit, he’s more mature this time,” Cummings said of Cylinder.

“I think he has got what it takes to keep improving and get to the level required to be competitive in the Slipper in four weeks time.”

Cylinder was paying $26 in all-in Golden Slipper betting at Ladbrokes.com.au before his win in the Silver Slipper.

Updated Golden Slipper Stakes odds now have the Silver Slipper winner into $17 with markets led by Annabel Neasham‘s $2 million Inglis Millennium winning filly Learning To Fly ($4).

She Will Reign (2017) and Farnan (2020) are the last two juveniles to complete the Silver Slipper Stakes – Golden Slipper Stakes double.

Click here to bet on Cylinder to be the next through Ladbrokes.com.au.

2023 Silver Slipper Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.