Trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry enjoyed a memorable afternoon at Rosehill, combining for a feature race double headlined by Marhoona’s victory in the Heritage Stakes and Manaal’s success in the Golden Pendant.
Manaal extended her winning streak to two, adding Saturday’s 1400m Golden Pendant to her earlier triumph in the Sheraco Stakes (1200m). Freedman said the mare’s resurgence was no surprise, attributing her disappointing autumn campaign to wide barriers and poor racing luck rather than a drop in ability.
“She was in the wilderness a little bit for eight or nine months and has come back from a disappointing run at Caulfield and then to win the Sheraco and back it up here today, it’s a big thrill,” Freedman said.
“I probably sound like a broken record but she has been going so well at home for quite a long time. It has been really frustrating going to the races previously where we’ve been hampered with bad barriers et cetera. But I’ve always felt if she got the right run in a race she has still got plenty to give and you’re never really sure with these mares as they start to get a little bit older.”
Freedman said the Silver Eagle (1300m) and The Invitation (1400m) are the most likely targets for Manaal as her spring campaign continues.
Earlier on the program, stablemate Marhoona made a winning return in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m), becoming just the second Golden Slipper winner in the past eight years to score again as a three-year-old.
Berry admitted he had mixed feelings heading into her first run back, knowing how difficult it has been for previous Slipper champions to reproduce their best at three.
“You know how well they’re going at home but I have been tricked into two-year-olds coming back from winning a Slipper three times,” Berry said. “It’s always in the back of your mind that they’ve got to come here and do it again.”
Marhoona ($3 fav) answered those doubts with a determined finish, outstaying Akaysha ($4.60) by three-quarters of a length, while Beadman ($3.10) closed strongly into third. In doing so, she became the first Slipper winner since Fireburn in 2022 to win another race.
The filly will now be aimed at the Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) before a tilt at the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1200m) at Flemington.
“The plan was to come back here for the Roman Consul and then three weeks into the Coolmore with a trial up the straight beforehand,” Freedman said.
