Just six weeks after making her debut at Canterbury, Marhoona has taken on and defeated the country’s best two-year-olds, delivering Michael Freedman an emotional Golden Slipper victory.
It was Freedman’s first Slipper triumph as a solo trainer, having previously won the race alongside his brother Richard with Stay Inside in 2021. He was also part of the powerful Freedman brothers operation that dominated the race in the 1990s with four consecutive wins.
But Saturday’s victory by Marhoona held special significance, particularly as the filly fended off late challenges from two of Sydney’s premier stables.
“It’s hard. You’re a small stable taking on these big numbers. You do the best you can,” Freedman said.
“I love training two-year-olds, I love training horses. It’s a big thrill.
“It’s a cliché, but these moments are exactly why you do it.”
Ridden by Damian Lane, Marhoona ($8) settled just behind the speed before bursting through to take the lead midway down the straight.
She had enough in reserve to hold 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 overshadowed by an incident near the 800m when Within The Law appeared to clip the running rail and dislodged jockey Jason Collett. Thankfully, both horse and rider escaped injury.
Despite some concerns about Marhoona tackling the Golden Slipper (1200m) at just her third career start, Freedman remained confident she had the ability to be a major player.
“I was a little bit concerned coming into today thinking maybe we needed one more run under our belt,” he said.
“But I thought I had the right article, I really did. Her run in the Reisling (Stakes) was off the charts. She was a month between runs.
“In these sort of races, you’re always wondering if you’re kidding yourself. I just thought she was the right article and she’s got the best temperament.”
The Golden Slipper marked the third consecutive Group 1 race where Waller had to settle for second, following Fangirl’s runner-up finish in the George Ryder Stakes and Aeliana’s near-miss in the Rosehill Guineas.
However, the leading trainer still tasted success earlier in the day with Via Sistina in the Ranvet Stakes and was full of praise for Wodeton’s performance.
“It was a great run. We took the gamble to ride him more conservatively and it almost paid off,” Waller said.
“Full credit to the winner and Michael Freedman, he’s done a great job.
“We’re not complaining. We are very spoilt with the horses we are given to train.”
Blake Shinn, who rode Tempted, believed she was unlucky not to have won after encountering trouble in the straight.
“We momentarily got our run impeded when North England and Bellazaine came together. I think that cost us the race,” Shinn said.
“A tough one to swallow. She ran a great race.”
Marhoona’s win gave Lane his second Golden Slipper success, following his victory aboard Kiamichi in 2019.
