Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A dual Group 2-winning juvenile and runner up in the G1 Golden Slipper, Cylinder returned as a 3-year-old posting back-to-back victories in the G3 Vain S. and G2 Run To The Rose.
Adding another commendable elite-level placing in the G1 Golden Rose, Cylinder claimed a superb maiden Group 1 victory in last month’s G1 Newmarket H., a race in which his sire won too.
In a statement released by Godolphin, Cylinder retired “fit and well” from racing and will join Darley’s Northwood Park stud roster this spring.
Addressing the decision to direct Cylinder to Victoria for stud duties, Darley's Australian Head of Sales, Andy Makiv, emphasised the strategic significance.
Cylinder won the G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington in March | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Victoria has been crying out for a headline act. We obviously have a fantastic farm there and a great business there. We're dedicated to the Victorian business and the Victorian breeders. It’s a great boost for the farm and a great boost for the Victorian breeders,” Makiv stated.
“He's a mid-sized, 15.3hh muscular, 2-year-old, precocious type. We would expect him to throw that. He was very sound of mind. He retired sound. He was very clean winded. So a really exciting prospect for breeders to consider.”
“He's (Cylinder) a mid-sized, 15.3hh muscular, 2-year-old, precocious type. We would expect him to throw that. He was very sound of mind. He retired sound. He was very clean winded. So a really exciting prospect for breeders to consider.” - Andy Makiv
Cylinder's departure from the racing scene coincides with his sire's recent retirement from covering duties.
Exceed's growing dynasty
Cylinder will stand alongside Bivouac (a fellow winner of the G1 Newmarket H.) and Microphone as one of three active sons of Exceed And Excel on the Darley Australia roster.
Gallery: Cylinder will be the third son of Exceed And Excel to join the Darley Australia roster for the 2024 breeding season
Of particular significance, Cylinder stands out as the only Group 1-winning offspring of Exceed And Excel accessible to breeders in Victoria, presenting local enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to tap into his illustrious lineage.
Makiv underscored the significance of the decision to stand Cylinder in Victoria, stating, “Obviously, Microphone and Bivouac fly the Exceed and Excel flag in New South Wales; Victoria was a logical place for Cylinder.”
“Obviously, Microphone and Bivouac fly the Exceed and Excel flag in New South Wales; Victoria was a logical place for Cylinder.” - Andy Makiv
While details regarding Cylinder's stud fee are pending, Makiv assured breeders of an impending announcement later in April. In the meantime, breeders can anticipate access to a supremely talented racehorse with a pedigree to match.
“He’s a beautifully balanced horse. He's obviously by Exceed And Excel out of a Street Cry mare from the family at Lonhro which encapsulates three great stallions that we've stood on Darley rosters in the last 20 years in Australia."
A Newmarket hero
James Cummings was effusive in his praise for 3-year-old Cylinder following his G1 Newmarket H. win.
“Now he's got the Newmarket to his name. That is a huge result for the farm, he had them covered a long way out. I love the fact that good horses were in the race; it just underlines the form, and he powered away from them.
“He's a very interesting horse, Cylinder. He's by Exceed And Excel, who won a Newmarket and has produced over 200 stakes wins - an amazing career as a stallion.
“He's by Exceed And Excel, who won a Newmarket and has produced over 200 stakes wins - an amazing career as a stallion.” - James Cummings
“Now we have Cylinder, who's by that horse (Exceed And Excel) from the family of Lonhro and out of a Street Cry mare; he's got it all.”
James Cummings | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
There have been very few Newmarket winners retired to stud in the last three decades, however two are on the Darley roster, with Cylinder joining Bivouac and proven Victorian sire Brazen Beau.
Cummings clearly knew Cylinder was one out of the box from his earliest days. Following up win in the G2 Silver Slipper S., he said: “We’re cooking with gas with this one, he is just loaded with ability.
Cylinder impressed in the G2 Silver Slipper S. at his third start | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Circular delivering all round
Three winners and two stakes winners from three foals to race is a brilliant start to dam Circular (Street Cry {Ire})’s broodmare career, although her burgeoning record at stud comes as no real surprise given her blue-blooded pedigree.
Circular, whose four career victories on the track included the G3 Schweppervescence Trophy, is the best-performed racehorse to emerge from the Octagonal (NZ) mare Hexameter, who is herself a daughter of the racemare Sibylline (Chief’s Crown {USA}).
Being by Octagonal, Hexameter is therefore a three-quarter sister to no less than four stakes winners, including Listed Dark Jewel Classic scorer Shannara, dual Group 1 winner Niello and, most significantly of all, Darley’s recently pensioned breedshaping stallion Lonhro - all three of whom are also by Octagonal.
Lonhro retired from stud duties in March | Image courtesy of Darley
Further down the page is the likes of Champion New Zealand 3-Year-Old Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and impressive G2 Silver Shadow S. heroine Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun), providing further evidence that this is one of the finest producing families in the Studbook.
“She was a pretty handy racemare herself and certainly had her share of ability, but she’s proving to be such a good broodmare,” Pulford said of Circular when interviewed following her progeny's G2 Silver Slipper S. day stakes double with Parisal (Astern) winning the G3 Toy Show Quality.
“She’s superbly bred - it’s one of those families that we inherited from the Inghams and is one we’ve had a lot of faith in. There’s plenty of winners, but the family has almost skipped a generation.
“She’s (Circular) superbly bred - it’s one of those families that we inherited from the Inghams and is one we’ve had a lot of faith in.” - Alastair Pulford
“The second dam Sibylline was probably the weak link in the family, but Street Cry, in all his brilliance, has brought it back. He’s such a wonderful stallion and such a great sire of broodmares.
“It’s very pleasing to see that the family is really firing again and it’s going to be a terrific family for the future.”
Circular delivered a colt by Group 1-producing stallion Brazen Beau last season, while she also has a yearling filly by Bivouac on the ground, and is in foal to Extreme Choice.
