Microphone impresses in Slipper audition

[Chief Stipe]

Godolphin’s team of youngsters for the Golden Slipper continues to grow with Microphone staking his claims with victory in the Skyline Stakes at Randwick.

Microphone has tightened from $13 to $9 for the Golden Slipper on March 23 after today’s win over the 1200 metres of the A$3.5 million race.

Ridden by James McDonald, Microphone ($2.40 favourite) settled midfield and asserted his authority in the straight to beat Cosmic Force by a length and a quarter.

Castelvecchio finished another two lengths third after being a long last at the top of the straight.

Godolphin head trainer James Cummings said Microphone rated among the best of the stable’s potential Slipper runners.

“You’d have to rate him right there at the moment,” he said. “This horse came here today up from Melbourne not long ago but we’ve barely breathed on him since.

“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. The ability to switch off mid-race the way he did.

“There was good acceleration from the colt. He will take a great deal of improvement for the sake of the experience. I’ve seen a little bit from the ones you have seen win and once was enough for me and we’ve allowed them to do it on race day and that is the beauty of it. They’ve been able to improve and get better with racing.”

McDonald also regularly rides Slipper favourite Tassort, a stablemate of Microphone who impressed Sydney’s leading jockey.

“He’s a beauty,” he said. “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.

“Obviously James (Cummings) has got a very strong hand in the Slipper. The way he is coming on and he acts, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

“Some were suspect about him running a strong six furlongs (1200m) but he has just knocked that on the head.”

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