James Harron did not take long to lock in a replacement runner in this year’s The Everest with the prominent bloodstock agent on Tuesday morning announcing that Cylinder would be his runner in the $20 million race.
The James Cummings-trained son of Exceed And Excel is a three-year-old, as was last year’s winner Giga Kick, who won as Harron’s representative.
Harron was to again be represented by Giga Kick this year but was forced to seek a replacement runner after Saturday morning’s news that Giga Kick was injured and out of the Spring Carnival.
“Thrilled to partner up with Godolphin and their boom three-year-old colt Cylinder to tackle The Everest in 2023,” Harron said.
The Golden Slipper runner-up, who last Saturday finished third in the Group 1 Golden Rose, will be one of two Godolphin gallopers in 1200-metre event at Randwick on October 14.
Two-time Group 1-winning four-year-old mare In Secret will run in Sheikh Mohammed’s slot with Zac Purton to fly out from Hong Kong for the ride.
The confirmation of Cylinder and In Secret means three quarters of the field is complete with nine runners confirmed.
Buenos Noches and Overpass were last week locked in, to represent TAB and RAM Racing respectively, joining Private Eye (Max Whitby and Neil Werrett) as horses to confirm their spots with top-three finishes in The Shorts on September 16.
I Wish I Win (Trackside Media), Think About It (Newgate/GPI), Mazu (The Star & Arrowfield) and Sunshine In Paris (Aquis) are the other confirmed runners.
Slot-holders left to confirm their runners are Chris Waller Racing, Coolmore and Yulong Investments.
