The biggest 2YO question in the land has been, and it has been this way for 6 months: where does the Godolphin inner sanctum rate their own?
Who is on top?
Where, for example, do all of those who made the Golden Slipper, fit in the pecking oder, in their eyes.
Darren Beadman, former head trainer, now assistant to James Cummings, has always enthused about the unbeaten Tenley.
Every time she runs, he calls her very special.
So it came as a shock when Beadman, along with Godolphin’s General Manager, Vin Cox, were put on the spot by Greg Radley on Wednesday.
“So, who is the best of them?” he asked.
Beadman said rather quietly, “Microphone is and is the one most likely to win the Slipper.”
Cox responded a moment later saying: “I think Microphone is too, but to be different from Darren, I rate Exhilarates right up there as well.”
So presumably Tenley is next from Lyre and Kiamichi.
Cox obviously doesn’t care as long as one fo their charges wins. “Outside of Exhilarates, we stand the sires of the others so it will give our stallions a good kick along depending on which one wins.”
Especially Sidestep, their low key First Season Sire who has fathered the likely speed horse in the race, Kiamichi.
He has a very small service fee at present, and has just 4 runners to date from a modest first crop.
He has a chance to land another city winner at Moonee Valley on Friday night with the 2YO called Surreal Step.
But Saturday is his big day.
Hebecomes a household name within the breeding ranks and therefore another goldmine for Godolphin should Kiamichi ($51) win.
