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By Dave Murray

Godolphin will be represented by two runners in The Everest at Royal Randwick next month after confirmation that progressive three-year-old Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) would start in the world’s richest sprint race on turf.

Just a few days after Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Zac Purton was announced as the rider of the dual G1 winner In Secret, a deal was finalised overnight with slot owner James Harron Bloodstock to include Cylinder in the select 12-horse field to compete over 1200m on Saturday, 14 October.

Harron is a shrewd judge and is chasing his third win in The Everest after partnering with connections of Redzel (2017) and Giga Kick last year.

Cylinder (outside) wins the Run To The Rose (Pic: Steve Hart)

A winner of the G3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield and the G2 Run To The Rose at Rosehill Gardens this preparation, Cylinder caught the eye when a close third in the G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill last Saturday.

The Exceed And Excel colt was beaten 0.2 lengths after racing wide from the jump.

“We are naturally delighted to team up with Godolphin and Cylinder, he’s been a horse we’ve been following closely and admiring from afar,” Harron said.

“He’s obviously a super-talented colt and I think he has the right profile to be very competitive in the race.

“Every time he goes around he puts in, I don’t think he’s ever run a bad race, and Saturday was no different.

“Things didn’t work out well for him, but he was still extremely tough and showed his star talent.

“The three-year-olds have a great record in the race and we felt he was the right three-year-old to go into the race, so we are very grateful that Godolphin has agreed to partner with us.”

At weight-for-age, three-year-olds have a great record in winning two of only six editions of The Everest.

Cummings also believes Cylinder has the right credentials to challenge the best sprinters in Australia.

“We are thrilled to have not one, but two contenders in arguably the finest sprint race in Australia,” Cummings said.

“We couldn’t be more delighted with In Secret after The Shorts, as a dual G1 winner who has defeated the best, her presence in the pinnacle of Australian sprint racing has our entire Godolphin team buzzing with excitement.

“This colt Cylinder is an absolute powerhouse and his selection in this race is well-deserved.

“He’s bouncing around after Saturday and, with three weeks to The Everest and another three weeks to the Coolmore Stud Stakes it sets a great path for the colt.”

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