Emirates Park and Freedman continue Slipper love affair

Marhoona continued the extraordinary record of both the Freedman family and Emirates Park in the Golden Slipper, with the Snitzel filly becoming the least experienced winner of the world’s richest two-year-old race in 50 years at Rosehill.

Freedman had played a role in four Golden Slipper successes under his brother Lee’s name in the 1990s and had partnered with his brother Richard when Stay Inside won the race in 2021.

This success, with an inexperienced fill, who only debuted in February 7, breaking her maiden before placing in the Reisling Stakes, was undoubtedly the sweetest.

“We’ve been through the ups and downs with the family over a lot of years with these sort of good results, bad results. But, yeah, it's a huge thrill for my team,” Freedman said.

“I mean, I've got a lot of young, up-and-coming stars in the industry, I think, and they've had such a big part to play in this, probably a lot more than me.”

Marhoona and jockey Damian Lane had to withstand a late charge from the Coolmore-owned and Chris Waller-trained Wodeton, who surged to be beaten narrowly, while Tempted, the filly who edged out Marhoona in the Riesling, less than a length away in third.

The race took a dramatic turn early when Jason Collett was unseated from Within The Law, who ended up on the wrong side of the running rail. Both jockey and horse were cleared of serious injury,

She became the third filly in the Emirates Park colours to win the Golden Slipper, following on from the successes of Mossfun in 2014 and Estijaab in 2018. All three winners have a  connection to Arrowfield champion Snitzel, who was the sire of Estijaab and the damsire of Mossfun. He was also the sire of 2023 winner Shinzo.

Freedman has already shared Group 1 glory with Emirates Park with the filly Manaal, who won the Inglis Sires the start after finishing fifth in last year’s Golden Slipper.  

It would be particularly satisfying for the Nasser Lootah-owned outfit, who purchased Marhoona’s third dam Dancing Show, 30 years ago in New Zealand.

The half-sister to fellow blue hen Shantha’s Choice has proven a prolific broodmare influence for Emirates Park with descendants including Group 1 winning racehorse and sire Al Maher as well as Group 3 winner Salameh.

Marhoona becomes the third stakes winner out of Encosta De Lago mare Salma, the others being Hilal, currently resident stallion at Grangewilliam Stud in New Zealand, and Salateen.

In winning the Slipper at her third start, Marhoona is the least experienced runner since Toy Show in the race in 1975.

Doyle’s brilliant Galaxy breakthrough  

Nathan Doyle experienced his first Group 1 win as a trainer and Ashley Morgan his first as a jockey when Private Harry won the Galaxy at just his fifth start.

The unbeaten son of Harry Angel put his stamp on the race at the 200-metre mark, getting the better of Front Page, who improved one position from his third last year, with Uncommon James running third.

The breakthrough of Doyle was in contrast to earlier in the meeting when Chris Waller took his total to 176 when Via Sistina won the G1 Ranvet takes comfortably, with James McDonald in the saddle.

One race later it was the same jockey, but a different trainer as Broadsiding saw off Waller’s filly Aeliana to claim the Rosehill Guineas in a thrilling finish.

The other Group 1 on the Rosehill program, the George Ryder, was won by the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts, by a slender margin from Waller and McDonald’s hope Fangirl. That was the first Group 1 for jockey Tommy Berry since 2002.

Meanwhile at Moonee Valley, the Rosemont-owned Schwarz minted his stud value with an all-the-way win in the William Reid Stakes.

In a marquee result for the Victorian outfit, the son of Zoustar became the first Group 1 winner purchased by the Rosemont colts syndicate.

It was a second Group 1 win for the training partnership of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton and a third victory at the top level for jockey Jamie Mott.