• Scratchings Update: #5 King’s Gambit (2) has come out on vet’s advice after he was found to have an elevated temperature. #6 Steparty (1) has also come out due to a foot abscess.

The James Cummings-trained The Everest graduate Cylinder is tipped to appreciate a return to racing against his own age when he jumps favourite at Flemington in the 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes field on Derby Day.

The Godolphin-raced Cylinder is favourite to win the 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

A bumper all-Group race card lights up headquarters for the opening meet of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and the Group 1 $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) is one of three elite levels on the program.

A near capacity field of three-year-old sprinters is engaged for the showdown down the famous ‘Straight Six’, and the latest Coolmore Stud Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the Godolphin-raced Cylinder on top.

The talented Exceed And Excel colt is a four-time winner from 10 starts and he has a lovely 1200m record (4:2-1-0).

He pays $3.60 drawn out wide in gate 14 for jockey Tim Clark with the horse making his Flemington debut.

Cylinder enjoyed back-to-back Group wins at Caulfield and Rosehill to kick off his spring before a third in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) behind Militarize only a neck beaten in a blanket finish.

At his latest he took on the country’s best sprinters in the $20 million The Everest (1200m) and was excellent running just a length back fifth to Think About It.

There is money for him to return to winning form down south now but how he handles the Flemington track will be key to his chances of handing Cummings back-to-back wins following the success of In Secret in 2022.

There are three fillies looking to go back-to-back for the girls in this year’s Coolmore more with dual Group 2 winner Tiz Invincible ($15) from the Maher/Eustace stable, the ultra-consistent Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Angel ($12) drawn out wide in gate 17, and Jason Warren’s roughie hope Treasurway ($201).

Stretan Angel is the best fancied of the fillies with the daughter of Harry Angel coming off a narrow win in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) at the track on October 7.

The main dangers to Cylinder meanwhile occupying the second and third lines of Coolmore Stud Stakes betting respectively are the Chris Waller-trained Golden Slipper winner Shinzo ($7) and last start Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes winner in Sydney King’s Gambit ($7.50) for Peter & Paul Snowden.

James McDonald partners Shinzo from barrier four third-up on the weekend with the Snitzel colt looking to atone for two ninth place runs this prep in the Golden Rose and The Everest.

King’s Gambit meanwhile has been in better form with the autumn’s Slipper third place-getter last seen saluting on October 7 in Sydney before which he placed third in a Listed race at Flemington.

The Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans-trained I Am Unstoppable is then the early Coolmore Stud Stakes market mover backed into $11 after three good placings this prep including a Danehill second last start.

The 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes is set to run as Flemington Race 6 at 3:40pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s nine-race card with the latest markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.

2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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