A fortnight on from winning at Listed level, James Cummings trained two-year-old Microphone proved too classy at Randwick on Saturday, racing away to win the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) by a comfortable margin.
The colt by Exceed and Excel is now three from four so far in his lightly raced career, while Cummings has added yet another hopeful for team Godolphin ahead of the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23.
Microphone has firmed into single-digit odds with Ladbrokes ahead of the Golden Slipper. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.
After retaining the ride on Saturday, winning jockey James McDonald was bullish on Microphone’s chances in the Slipper.
“He’s got a big motor, he’s such a pleasure to ride, he jumps well, puts himself in the race, relaxes, and got a great turn of foot” Cummings said after the race.
“Onward to the Slipper, obviously James (Cummings) has a very strong hand in the race, and the way he’s come on, the way he acts, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Microphone now hopes to become the sixth horse to win the Skyline-Golden Slipper double, with the most recent being Dance Hero in 2004. Cummings paid full credit to his classy two-year-old after Saturday’s win, but also made special mention of McDonald’s ride.
“Full credit to Microphone. 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.
Microphone’s relaxed racing style was on full display on Saturday, and since he’s not afraid to sit up on the speed, it’s no surprise to see him firm from a $13.00 chance into $9.00 with Ladbrokes.
“There was good acceleration from the colt. He’s from a good family, the family of Yell. He’s going to be a good six/seven furlong horse even though he got lost on his Melbourne leg. He will take a great deal of improvement for the sake of the experience” Cummings went on to say.
Third place-getter Castelvecchio also ran on well on Saturday after missing the start, but looks unlikely to head to the Slipper.
Full Golden Slipper Odds:
