Marhoona prevails in thrilling $5m Golden Slipper

In a remarkable rise to the top, Marhoona has claimed an emotional victory in the Golden Slipper, delivering trainer Michael Freedman a career-defining moment just six weeks after her debut at Canterbury.

While Freedman had previously celebrated a Slipper triumph with his brother Richard in 2021 through Stay Inside—and was part of the legendary Freedman brothers’ four-year domination of the race in the 1990s—this victory held extra meaning as his first solo success.

Taking on powerhouse stables with a relatively small operation, Freedman was visibly moved by the result.

"It's tough. You're a small stable going up against these huge numbers. You just do the best you can," Freedman said.

"I love training two-year-olds, I love training horses. This is an incredible thrill.

"It's a cliché, but these moments are exactly why you do it."

Ridden perfectly by Damian Lane, Marhoona ($8) tracked the early pace before surging ahead in the straight. She then dug deep to fend off a strong challenge from Chris Waller’s Wodeton ($7), winning by a head, with Godolphin’s Tempted ($4.80 favorite) finishing another half-length away in third.

The race was not without drama, as Within The Law made contact with the running rail near the 800m, unseating jockey Jason Collett. Thankfully, both horse and rider escaped unscathed.

Despite concerns about Marhoona stepping up to the Golden Slipper (1200m) with only two prior starts, Freedman had faith in her ability.

"I was slightly worried coming into today, thinking she might have needed one more run," he admitted.

"But deep down, I believed she was the real deal. Her effort in the Reisling (Stakes) was phenomenal, even with a month between runs.

"In these kinds of races, you always second-guess yourself, wondering if you're dreaming too big. But I just felt she had all the right qualities, and her temperament is outstanding."

For Chris Waller, Wodeton’s narrow defeat marked his third consecutive runner-up finish in a Group 1, following Fangirl (George Ryder Stakes) and Aeliana (Rosehill Guineas). However, he had already celebrated a win earlier in the day with Via Sistina in the Ranvet Stakes.

"It was a fantastic run. We took a chance by riding him a bit quieter, and it nearly worked out," Waller said.

"Full credit to Michael Freedman—he’s done an outstanding job.

"We’re not complaining. We are incredibly lucky to work with the quality of horses we have."

Jockey Blake Shinn felt that Tempted was unlucky not to win after encountering trouble in the straight.

"We had our momentum checked when North England and Bellazaine shifted together. I think that cost us the race," Shinn said.

"A tough pill to swallow. She ran superbly."

Marhoona’s victory gave Lane his second Golden Slipper, following his 2019 triumph aboard Kiamichi.