breednet.com.au

Godolphin Again - Microphone Announces Himself in Talindert

Mark Smith - Saturday February 16

Godolphin's embarrassment of riches in the two-year-old division rolled on to Flemington on Saturday with the Exceed And Excel colt Microphone turning a competitive looking Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) into a walk in the park.

A winner on debut at Flemington on January 12, the James Cummings-trained colt found the unbeaten I Am Invincible colt I Am Immortal a length too good in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) a fortnight later.

Advertisement

Given a sweet ride by James McDonald, Microphone trailed his stablemate Lanigera in the run and when that son of Denman drifted off the fence, McDonald pounced. Microphone kept up a strong gallop to win by two and a quarter lengths over the $500,000 Snitzel filly Talented with a further three-quarters of a length to the Foxwedge filly Charleise who earned some valuable black-type at her career debut.


"I thought his win there was quite promising and I loved the way he kept driving to the line," Cumming said.

"He probably looks a horse well-suited to Sydney now and a race like the Skyline looks ideal for him.

"I held him back from running in a strong race last week against I Am Immortal again and with just three runs under his belt, he looks to have a bit of upside.

"He did his early education in Sydney so switching them between stables has been really helpful for us and extremely effective."

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.

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).

The daughter of Anabaa is out 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, she was covered by Spirit Of Boom last spring.

Microphone becomes the 156th stakes-winner for Darley Stud's flagship stallion Exceed And Excel.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Unbeaten Run Continues For Autumn Glow
Resuming off the back of two solid barrier trials efforts, Chris Waller’s Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) stepped up to open company for the first time, with the $1.8m yearling purchase extending her unbeaten run to five with victory in the Group 3 ATC Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick.
Third Black Type Win For Snitzel’s Lazzura
A member of the Waller team to hold a dual acceptance leading into Saturday’s Randwick meeting, it was the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) where 4yo Snitzel mare Lazzura came out on top, recording her third black type victory.
Jenni Lets Loose At The Valley
Smart staying mare Jennivamoose recorded her third victory at The Valley when winning the Simpson Construction Handicap (2500m) in similar fashion to her previous victory at the venue.
A New Benchmark for Edinburgh Stud
An emotional Ian Smith watched on as bidding reached $1 million for Edinburgh Stud’s stunning Exceed And Excel colt out of the Smoke Glacken mare Smokin’ Alice (USA) to set a new benchmark for the stud.
New Star for Hellbent – Savvy Hallie Wins G2 Silver Shadow
Yarraman Park’s Hellbent has made his name with brilliant Group I winning mares Magic Time and Benedetta with exciting filly Savvy Hallie adding her name his list of stakes-winners with a stylish victory in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
15th G1 Winner for Exceed and Excel
Turning 20 this year, Darley’s champion sire Exceed and Excel has just finished a super successful Magic Millions Sale that saw him with 24 yearlings average $398,542 to be the third leading sire by average and in South Africa on Saturday he posted a 15th Group I winner.
Winning Return for the Best in Australia - Via Sistina
Set to be crowned Australia’s Horse of the Year for last season, the mighty Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) returned on a rain soaked track at Randwick on Saturday to win the $1million Group I ATC Winx Stakes (1400m).
Sterling Express Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate
Sterling Express stepped up to Group level for the first time in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, and a stunning last-to-first performance showed that he belongs.
First Black Type Victory For Nellie Leylax (IRE)
Not a bad way to break through for your first Australian victory as the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Nellie Leylax (IRE) cleared out by more than two lengths to claim the Group 3 ATC Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick.
$1.8 Million Exceed and Excel Colt from G1 Winner Platelet
A protracted bidding duel marked the sale of Lot 640, a powerhouse colt by Exceed and Excel from dual Group I winning sprinter Platelet with Hawkes Racing prevailing over a persistent Coolmore.