Not only did the colt finish second in the Merson Cooper Stakes at Flemington in November after breaking his jaw in a barrier incident pre-race, he bounced out of the setback with a stunning return in Saturday’s Group 2 Silver Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
With Platinum Jubilee ($4.40) setting a solid tempo, Cylinder ($4.60) camped in second and valiantly gave chase to overhaul the filly by a half-length with King’s Gambit ($2.50 betr fav) another long neck away in third.
Cummings, who also has Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Barber among his two-year-old arsenal, says Cylinder has shown the right attitude to deal with his jaw injury and shown vast improvement from his first campaign to his second.
“We’re cooking with gas with this one. He is just loaded with ability,” Cummings said.
“He has improved a stack. He’s been galvanised with a couple of very solid runs pre-Christmas, a trip to Melbourne, a trip to Newcastle, not in that order.
“Not everything went right for him in Victoria, thankfully we were able to get him back to Osborne Park on a pretty quick turnaround and nature took its course.
“He has developed, he’s grown a bit, he’s more mature this time.
“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 will head to the Golden Slipper via the Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 4.
Adrian Bott said they would also press on with the consistent Platinum Jubilee, who was having her first start since finishing runner-up in the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January.
“She stuck on gamely and was very courageous,” Bott said.
“At this stage she will go to the Reisling Stakes.”
Newgate Farm’s Henry Field, who manages the syndicate that races King’s Gambit, was disappointed with his colt’s performance and said the youngster needed to learn to settle.
“I thought he was entitled to win if he was the real deal,” Field said.
“He over-raced which is the reality. We will keep going, but it’s back to the drawing board.”