Godolphin trifecta in the Golden Slipper

James Cummings won the Golden Slipper with Kiamichi, the least fancied of six Godolphin runners.

Godolphin has claimed a memorable Golden Slipper trifecta with Kiamichi, the longest-priced of six runners in the famous blue colours, beating Microphone and Lyre.

The winner and the runner-up are prepared by Sheikh Mohammed’s head Australian trainer James Cummings, with third placed Lyre one of a handful of Godolphin horses in the care of Anthony Freedman.

The winner of last week’s Magic Night Stakes on similar heavy conditions, Kiamichi ($26) assumed the lead early in Saturday’s 1200m-race and gave no quarter, keeping Microphone ($8) at bay by a length.

Lyre ($14), the winner of the Blue Diamond Stakes, did a lot of work from back in the field to finish another half length away.

“It’s a great credit to this horse,” Cummings said.

“She’s just been able to come on the scene in such a way that suggested that she was just going too well to deny her a chance to be running in this race.”

“She’s our first two-year-old winner, we trained her for strength. I wanted to toughen these horses up all season and she was tough this week. She had an absolute ripper of a week.”

Kiamichi won her first race on November 8 and the $3.5 million Slipper was her third win from five starts.

She is by Sidestep who won the Pago Pago Stakes a week before running second to Overreach in the 2013 Slipper.

“She’s by a stallion who was able to run three weeks in a row and still run second in this race just like our colt Microphone just did,” Cummings said.

“Microphone’s got a great future but one thing I knew coming into this Golden Slipper this year, you can throw out the window what horse you think is the most brilliant horse; you can throw out the window the horse you think has had the picture perfect preparation, because at the end of it it’s going to come down to the horse that’s got the guts to handle the track on the occasion and the heart to get over the line first.

“The guys have done an amazing job all season to be meticulous with these two-year-olds. I’m pretty proud to be associated with the blue jacket at the moment.”

Damian Lane rode Kiamichi to win the Magic Night and said he was thrilled to be a part of the Godolphin Slipper.

“It’s a big thrill to ride such a big winner for Godolphin. I’m just a small part of the team there but it’s a good team to be involved with,” Lane said.

“I got on her last week and sat and steered her around and did the same thing.

“We had to be positive and use her best attribute which is her speed and her toughness and it paid off.”

Hugh Bowman rode Microphone to second and said the winner just had too much going for her.

“I’m delighted with the colt,” he said.

“It was a great performance and I’m proud of him. The winner was too good.”

Freedman said he felt barrier 13 played against Lyre.

“She’s run really well but we probably needed a better draw,” he said.

“Obviously she’s a top-notch filly and we’ll give her a rest now.”

South Australian colt Free Of Debt suffered injuries to both front tendons which trainer Chris Bieg said needed treatment but were not too serious.

The third placegetter in the Blue Diamond, Free Of Debt finished last of the 16 runners.