Exceed And Excel Colt Impresses on Debut at Flemington

Mark Smith - Saturday January 12

With some beautifully pedigreed newcomers, it would be no surprise if Saturday's Super Vobis 2-Y-O Plate (1000m) down the Flemington straight threw up several future stakes-winners.

With the field split into two divisions, it was Godolphin's favoured Exceed And Excel colt Microphone who proved a nose too good for the $700,000 Brazen Beau filly Pretty Brazen with another Exceed And Excel Godolphin homebred, Auxin, three-quarter of a length back in third.

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Winning rider Dwayne Dunn said Microphone was coltish in the paddock but a professional on the track.  

"He's a lovely horse, once you get on him he's good. In the yard he wants to play and roar and I'll tell James (Cummings) if he leaves him here in Melbourne for as long as he can that would be nice," Dunn said.

"It's a pretty exciting time for the Godolphin team, they stamped him early as a really nice horse and he stood up today."

Godolphin representative Kate Grimwade said Microphone and Auxin could not have been any more impressive at their racetrack debuts.

"It was a really impressive start to his race career. Couldn't be any happier with Auxin as well, he ran on well and hopefully with have two really nice colts for the future.

Grimwade said it will depend on how the pair pulls up before deciding if they press on to the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 23, although Microphone was not nominated and will require the payment of a late entry fee.

"I will talk to James but I'm sure he will be thinking about that," she added.

A half-brother to two winners, Microphone is the fifth foal of the Listed Scone Dark Jewel Classic winner Sung (Anabaa) who Godolphin parted with last year. She was purchased by Boomer Bloodstock for $70,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

From one of Woodlands most successful families, Sung is a sister to the triple Group 1 winning sprinter Yell and a half-sister to Shouts (Strategic) the dam of Group 1 ATC Canterbury Stakes winner Holler (Commands).

Sung is a daughter of the stakes-winning Bluebird (USA) mare Vocalist who is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Anthems (Palace Music) and to the dam of the Group II ATC Hill Stakes winner Lamasery (Commands).

Granddam Loyal Lyric (Sovereign Red) is a half-sister to the dam of the super popular stallion Written Tycoon.

Sung has a yearling colt by Teofilo (IRE). After slipping her Animal Kingdom foal in 2017, Sung was covered by Spirit Of Boom last spring.

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