Trained by Michael Freedman, Marhoona prevailed in the Golden Slipper 12 months prior and returned firing to bag her latest Group 1 prize in The Galaxy.
“So much for the Slipper hoodoo,” Freedman said.
“I don’t think I’ve had a horse that’s just got as much tenacity as she does. She hates losing.
“She looked out on her feet at the 100m there and just refused to lay down, a bit like the Slipper last year. What a filly.”
The Galaxy handicapping was accurate, seeing nine horses hit the line inside one length.
Kerrin McEvoy guided the $12 chance Marhoona home by a head from fast-finisher Jedibeel ($21), with bold frontrunner Mazu ($18) third by a short head and Briasa ($4 equal elect) nipped in fourth.
Chaos erupted pre-start as $4 favourite Grafterburners reared in the barriers, flipped out the rear, dismounting Zac Lloyd from his Golden Slipper mount and delaying proceedings over five minutes.
On veterinary recommendation, Grafterburners was declared a late scratching, Lloyd exiting with muscle issues in leg and ankle.
Becoming the pioneer post-She Will Reign (Golden Slipper, Moir Stakes 2017), Marhoona is the first Golden Slipper winner to snag another Group 1 beyond juvenile days.
Marhoona links with 1978 hero Luskin Star as the exclusive Golden Slipper winners also victors in The Galaxy.
“We discussed before the race maybe ending up in the one-one,” Freedman said.”But, you know, Kerrin showed great initiative and just went and parked outside the leader.
“I knew when she was there she’d be certainly right in the finish, but I was a little bit concerned, maybe at the furlong (a200m) where I thought maybe she’s going to get sort of steamrolled, but she’s just got such an incredible will to win.”
McEvoy’s 88th Group 1 arrived as he noted slight nerves entering the straight.
“But full credit to her, the more I asked, the more she dug,” McEvoy said.
“Michael said to me, ‘Look, she’s right in it with the weight’ and we were confident she would handle the ground.
“I was under pressure from the top of the straight but she kept fighting back.
“At the 100m, I was still there. It’s a nice surprise when they get off the canvas like that.
“She’s a star filly, its onwards and upwards from here. She’s won a couple of Group 1 races now so well played by Michael.”
Trainer Freedman has Marhoona set for Group 1 $3m TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) Royal Randwick April 4, plotting towards spring’s Group 1 $20m The Everest (1200m).
Brad Widdup’s Jedibeel was last early, buried on the turn, then rocketed through to eye Marhoona.
“He is in super order,” jockey Tommy Berry said. “He gave away a bit of start from the gate and just narrowly missed. It was a tough effort.”
Mazu set the speed and only succumbed late. “He is going super this horse,” jockey Rachel King said of Mazu. “He has his quirks which we all know about, he likes to do things his own way, but he couldn’t be going any better.”
After fourth in last The Galaxy then TJ Smith glory, Briasa’s latest Rosehill feature fourth has Team Hawkes hopeful for Randwick lightning strike soon.
“I thought he was terrific,” jockey Tyler Schiller said of Briasa.
“He got into a lovely spot from the wide gate, three deep with cover, and tracked into it nicely.
“His runcame to an end with the heavy weight and the wet ground. A couple with the pull in the weights got him but he did a great job.”
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