Just six weeks after making her debut at Canterbury, Marhoona has taken on and beaten the best two-year-olds in the country to hand Michael Freedman an emotional Golden Slipper victory.
It was Freedman’s first Slipper win as a solo trainer, having previously won the race in partnership with his brother Richard when Stay Inside triumphed in 2021. He was also part of the famed Freedman brothers operation that dominated the race in the 1990s with four consecutive wins.
Saturday’s triumph with Marhoona was particularly meaningful, as the filly held off the late challenges of two runners from Sydney’s biggest stables.
“It’s tough. We’re a small stable competing against the big operations. You just do your best,” Freedman said.
“I love training two-year-olds, I love training horses. It’s an amazing feeling.
“It’s a cliché, but these moments are exactly why you do it.”
Ridden by Damian Lane, Marhoona ($8) settled just off the speed before bursting through in the straight to take control.
She had enough in reserve to fend off the Chris Waller-trained Wodeton ($7) by a head, while Godolphin filly Tempted ($4.80 fav) finished another half-length away in third.
The race was not without drama, as Within The Law appeared to clip the running rail near the 800m, dislodging jockey Jason Collett. Fortunately, both horse and rider emerged unscathed.
Freedman admitted he had some doubts about Marhoona tackling the Golden Slipper (1200m) at just her third career start, but he believed she had the quality to compete.
“I was a little worried coming into today, thinking maybe she needed one more run,” he said.
“But I thought I had the right horse, I really did. Her run in the Reisling (Stakes) was outstanding, especially being a month between runs.
“In these big races, you always wonder if you’re being too optimistic, but I just had a feeling she was the real deal. She’s got an incredible temperament.”
The Golden Slipper was Waller’s third consecutive Group 1 second-place finish of the day, following Fangirl’s near miss in the George Ryder Stakes and Aeliana’s defeat in the Rosehill Guineas.
Still, he was able to celebrate an earlier win in the Ranvet Stakes with Via Sistina and was proud of Wodeton’s performance.
“It was a great run. We took the gamble to ride him more patiently and it nearly paid off,” Waller said.
“Full credit to the winner and to Michael Freedman—he’s done a fantastic job.
“We can’t complain. We’re incredibly fortunate with the horses we get to train.”
Blake Shinn, who rode Tempted, felt his filly was unlucky not to have won after being held up for a run in the straight.
“We got checked momentarily when North England and Bellazaine came together. I think that cost us the race,” Shinn said.
“It’s tough to take, but she ran an outstanding race.”
Marhoona’s victory gave Lane his second Golden Slipper win, following his success with Kiamichi in 2019.
