The James Cummings-trained Cylinder staged his Golden Slipper claims with a perfectly-timed victory over the formerly undefeated Red Resistance in Saturday’s 2023 Todman Stakes results.

Silver Slipper winner Cylinder was too good again posting a tough victory in the 2023 Todman Stakes results. Photo: Steve Hart.

It was a thrilling two horse battle to the line with Godolphin‘s Silver Slipper winning Exceed And Excel colt Cylinder too good the closing stages in this year’s Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

Jockey James McDonald jumped aboard Cylinder in the Todman and got him into a lovely, relaxed position popping to the outside before producing a superior sprint down the home straight.

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Russian Revolution colt Red Resistance was chasing a third win from as many career starts in his first run since the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes in late February.

He and hoop Brett Prebble held the lead around the home turn with the long-striding favourite going for it a long way out.

Cylinder was quickly up on his outside before Red Resistance knuckled down for a great finish.

The two top colts went stride-for-stride but Cylinder was able to get his head in front 100m out and came out on top in a tough performance.

“The second horse is a magnificent animal and he was huge again there,” Cummings told the media post-win giving credit to the beaten favourite Red Resistance.

“There was nearly three lengths back to the third horse so those two look like extremely good chances in two weeks.

“It’s a horse race and we’ve beaten a very good horse only by three-quarters of a length but you have to love the way he did it.”  

In third to complete the Todman Stakes trifecta in the five-horse field was Chris Waller‘s last start Canterbury winning Dundeel colt Militarize.

It now looks onwards and upwards for Cylinder who heads to Rosehill next on March 18 for the Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m).

Farnan (2020) was the last horse to complete the Todman Stakes – Golden Slipper double and Cummings is confident they’ve got a top chance to be the next.

“Cylinder is going to take the A1 form going into the Golden Slipper with the Silver Slipper and Todman (Stakes) under his belt,” he said.

“We won this race a couple of years ago with Anamoe, it’s a good horse’s race, and I was very confident with Bivouac one year too and he just didn’t quite have things go his way.”

Cummings also confirmed plans to secure J. Mac for the Golden Slipper ride on Cylinder.

“This horse is doing everything right, he’s improved from his first-up run and what more can you ask? Now (jockey manager) Mark Guest has just got to lock in that James McDonald next to his name in two weeks and James might be able to win a little million bonus on the horse by having won these two lead-ups,” he said.

Updated all-in 2023 Golden Slipper odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Cylinder at $4.50 and are available in full by clicking here.

Red Resistance meanwhile has eased out to $10 in pre-field Golden Slipper betting following the Todman results.

2023 Todman Stakes Results & Finishing Order 

Table Credit: Racing Australia.