INGLIS SIRES’ Produce

Stakes (GROUP 1)

GODOLPHIN continued their clean sweep of juvenile racing, by taking out the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Produce with the Exceed And Excel colt Microphone. The Golden Slipper runner-up relished the step up to 1,400 metres to come from mid-field and run down his stablemate, the Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi who was bested into second by the I Am Invincible filly Loving Gaby.

“He’s a star colt,” said trainer James Cummings. “I think back to the Tuesday before the Slipper and he absolutely exploded for us in a gallop. We barely had to breathe on him for this race today, just be confident in the horse, didn’t do too much with him, and his class shone through.”

With four wins and a pair of seconds from six starts, Microphone has plenty to look forward to according to jockey Hugh Bowman: “I will be surprised if he isn’t the best horse out of the Golden Slipper. I think he will improve on what we saw today. The track is racing beautifully but my opinion it is heavy and despite that, I think we will see him better on top of the ground. The best will be seen when he gets to 1,600 metres.” That could be as soon as next Saturday’s the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick.

Australian Easter Yearling Sale

THE two-day Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale concluded on Wednesday with 343 lots (84% clearance rate) sold at an aggregate of A$122,235,500.

On day one James Harron Bloodstock went to A$2.8 million for the Snitzel colt out of General Nediym mare Ichiara.

Overall the sale averaged $356,372 with a median of $260,000 as 19 yearlings (14 colts and five fillies) went for six figures, with colts by Snitzel, Fastnet Rock, Deep Impact and Exceed And Excel all selling for $1.7 million or greater. The top-priced filly was by Lonhro and went for $1.4 million to the bid of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

Winx a sell-out

RANDWICK has put up the ‘full house’ sign for Winx’s final race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, of which she has won the past two editions. An expected crowd in excess of 42,000 will create a modern day attendance record for Randwick.

Autumn Sun to stud

AUSTRALIA’s leading three-year-old colt The Autumn Sun has been retired to stud. John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud issued a statement that the son of Redoute’s Choice had been retired with immediate effect. Redoute’s Choice died recently at the age of 22.

The Autumn Sun raced nine times during his career, winning eight races and finishing third once. He won five Group 1s across three states. He ended his three-year-old season with five consecutive victories, four of those at Group 1 level: the Golden Rose, Caulfield Guineas, Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

“The quality of The Autumn Sun’s race record also reflects the skill and dedication of trainer Chris Waller and his team,” Messara said.

The Autumn Sun will stand at Arrowfield at a fee of $77,000 including. GST.