Tarrant, Forster firing on all cylinders

Apprentice Luke Tarrant has ridden his first feature winner since returning from a long suspension as Cylinder Beach continued trainer Desleigh Forster’s impressive start to the Brisbane summer carnival.

Cylinder Beach ($8.50) charged through the pack to beat a brave Hopfgartern ($5.50) by 1-1/2 lengths in the Listed Recognition Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Tarrant was Brisbane’s leading junior rider during his apprenticeship, winning the 2015 Magic Millions Classic and the 2014 Group Two Villiers at Randwick.

His career ran off the rails when he was banned for eight months on drug offences and he didn’t return until late August.

“It is great to be back riding in big races aboard good horses such as Cylinder Beach,” Tarrant said.

Forster won last week’s Keith Noud Quality with another of her four-year-olds in Too Good To Refuse but she will keep the horses apart.

Cylinder Beach won the Group Three Gunsynd Classic as a three-year-old last season and Forster believes he is headed towards more stakes success.

“I will keep Too Good To Refuse and Cylinder Beach apart until the winter and I think we might head to the Villiers in Sydney next month,” Forster said.

“But it will all depend on how much weight he is likely to get in Brisbane in the coming weeks.”

Trainer Robert Heathcote was thrilled with the run of Hopfgarten who had to give the winner 6kg.

Promising Billy the Kid ($3.10) put his name forward as a possible contender for the Magic Millions Guineas in January with his win in a support race.

Trainer Chris Meagher said Billy the Kid was still learning what racing was all about.

“It is the exciting thing about him. It was only his second visit to Eagle Farm and only his fourth start,” Meagher said.

“I have no doubt he is a horse who can win a good race up to 1600 metres.”

Trainer Kelly Schweida admitted he agonised over which race in which to start Stella Ombre ($3.50) before going with the Winning Edge Handicap (1000m).

“I kept studying both fields and finally decided there was more pace in the 1000-metre race which would suit him,” Schweida said.

It was the way it turned out with Stella Ombre charging home to win in the last stride from Lady Jettsetter ($2.40).