A facile winner of the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington, Microphone took the trip north to Sydney for Saturday's Group II Schweppes Skyline Stakes (1200m) in his stride and punters did not forget to back him.
With the scratchings of Bivouac and Rome, just six went to the post for the important Golden Slipper lead up.
Given the run of the race by James McDonald, the James Cummings-trained colt pounced at the 300 metres and was never in danger, hitting the line strongly to defeat Cosmic Force (Deep Field) by one and a quarter lengths with two lengths back to the Inglis Millennium winner Castelvecchio (Dundeel) who was struggling on the turn but came home strongly late. (images Steve Hart)
A Godolphin homebred son of Exceed And Excel, Microphone advances his record to 3 wins and 1 second from 4 starts with earnings of $292,100.
He will be vying to become the first winner since Dance Hero in 2004 to complete the Skyline Stakes – Golden Slipper double.
"He's a beauty. He's got a big motor and he's such a pleasure to ride. He jumps well, puts himself in the race, relaxes, and he's got a great turn of foot, McDonald said.
"Onwards to the Slipper. Obviously, James has got a very strong hand in the race. The way he is coming on and he acts, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with.
"if he was suspect of running a strong six furlongs he has just knocked that on the head."
Cummings said Microphone was entitled to be among the leading chances in the Golden Slipper.
"You'd have to rate him right there at the moment. The ability to switch off mid-race the way he did. Surprisingly Cosmic Force slid up on our outside and James settled him into a nice trailing position in third," Cummings said.
"There was
"This horse came from Melbourne not long ago, but we've barely breathed on him since he arrived. He's going to tighten up as clean-winded as he is. Come Slipper day he'll be like a young man with a new suit."
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.
