Golden Slipper winner Marhoona likely to return in the 2025 Moir Stakes
Golden Slipper winner Marhoona has signalled she is ready for a big spring with an impressive trial victory at Hawkesbury on Monday.
The daughter of Snitzel, in the colours of Emirates Park, showed her trademark professionalism when she hugged the rail and powered through the line to defeat Headwall by half a length over 800m. Shangri La Spring, Jedibeel and Ostraka followed behind in a quality heat.
Trainer Michael Freedman was delighted with her return. “It was a nice trial, she looks to have come back in good order and she pulled up nice and clean after it,” he said. “I wanted her to finish it off without coasting to the line… it was good because wherever we go with her she’d probably go off just the one trial.”
Her potential first-up assignments include the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley, Sydney’s Concorde Stakes (1000m), or the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m). Freedman also praised stablemate Apocalyptic, who finished sixth in the same trial and continues to make strides after a promising juvenile season.
It was a morning brimming with star power, with Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker capturing his heat, and Melbourne Cup candidates Sir Delius and Vauban taking out their 1250m trials for the Waterhouse-Bott team.
Racing fans and punters can follow Marhoona’s path to her spring kick-off, with early markets already live at Australia’s leading betting sites.
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