Australia: Cylinder hopes to use Run to the Rose as springboard to bigger stakes

Cylinder was second as the favorite in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, Australia in March, losing the $3.32 million race by slightly more than a length.

Nearly six months later, Cylinder is back at Rosehill Gardens and a heavy favorite to win for the fourth time in his eighth start in the Group 2 Run to the Rose Stakes at six furlongs for 3-year-olds.

This time, the purse is $191,300, but could lead to much more valuable races for Cylinder, who is trained by James Cummings.

Cylinder returned from a layoff of more than four months to win the Group 3 Vain Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs by a short head as the 1-2 favorite on Aug. 19.

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The Run to the Rose Stakes drew a field of 10, including the undefeated Libertad, the winner of two Group 3 sprints at 5 1/2 furlongs in April and on Aug. 26. Libertad, who races from slightly off the pace, will have his fourth start in the Run to the Rose Stakes.

Rosehill Gardens has a 10-race program that includes two other Group 2 sprints worth $191,300 – the Sheraco Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs, and the Theo Marks Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs. The program begins at 9:50 p.m. Eastern or 6:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The Sheraco Stakes field is led by Zapateo, who finished a game third by 1 1/4 lengths as the 5-2 favorite in the Group 1 Goodwood Stakes at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide in May in her last start. Her main rival is the speedy I Am Me, a multiple stakes winner capable of leading.

The Theo Marks Stakes lacks a clear favorite, but there will be ample support for the New Zealand-bred 4-year-old Kovalica, who has won 6 of 9 starts at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/2 miles.

Kovalica won the Group 1 Queensland Derby at 1 1/2 miles at Eagle Farm on May 27 in his last start. Kovalica has a sharp rally that may work in a much shorter race as the Theo Marks.

The conditions should suit Argentia, a 4-year-old filly who was second by a nose in a seven-furlong handicap at Rosehill Gardens on Aug. 12 in her first start since March.

At Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Giga Kick will be a heavy favorite to win his third consecutive start in Friday evening’s Group 2 McEwen Stakes at five furlongs.

Giga Kick has not raced since a win in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 Stakes at six furlongs at Eagle Farm Racecourse on May 13.

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