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.
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.
