Jockey Jamie Kah has been moved to tears after guiding Cylinder to an emotional win in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
It was the second successive win in the Group 1 handicap over 1200m for Godolphin after In Secret took out the race last year.
Kah was to have ridden In Secret in 2023, but a fall in the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes sent the jockey to hospital where she battled concussion and other injuries.
The ride went to Dean Holland, who gave a faultless display on the filly, but tragically, just over a month later, he died in a race fall at Donald.
Kah brought up a race-to-race double for Godolphin aboard Cylinder having taken out the Group 2 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) on Traffic Warden.
CYLINDER WINS THE NEWMARKET HANDICAP π @jamieleekah07 is ON FIRE at @FlemingtonVRC today π₯ @godolphin pic.twitter.com/EBb3u4awNU
— 7HorseRacing π (@7horseracing) March 9, 2024
"I thought I was a tough person, but I'm not today," Kah said.
"This is for Dean Holland. I couldn't imagine anyone riding that horse as well as he did last year and hopefully, he is watching down on us today.
"Today has been amazing and for Godolphin, they have always supported me.
"It is great to get over last year and start again and I don't think any day will top today.
"I think in the last 100 metres I nearly stopped and started crying.
"I can't really remember it."
Coming widest down the Flemington straight course, Cylinder ($11) scored by 1-1/4 lengths from the $2.80 favourite Imperatriz with The Astrologist ($101) a neck away third.