2025 Golden Slipper: Michael Freedman-trained Marhoona a big firmer in betting after scraping into field

An element of luck provided Marhoona with her chance in Saturday’s $5 million Golden Slipper and trainer Michael Freedman is hopeful his untapped filly will take full advantage in the world’s richest two-year-old event at Rosehill Gardens.

An element of luck provided Marhoona with her chance in Saturday’s $5 million Golden Slipper and trainer Michael Freedman is hopeful his untapped filly will take full advantage in the world’s richest two-year-old event at Rosehill Gardens.

In plenty of other years the $84,400 in prizemoney earned by Marhoona wouldn’t have been enough to gain a Slipper start.

The highly-promising filly is one of the most inexperienced starters in the Slipper field having only had two starts, winning on debut at Canterbury before finishing a close second to Tempted in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes earlier this month.

She has been the subject of a sustained betting push since it was revealed she would make the Slipper field, shortening from $26 chance to sit on the third line of betting at $9.50 by Friday afternoon.

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“Given Tempted is pretty tight in the market ($5 equal favourite) and she finished close by to her in the Reisling, maybe that’s the reason why the money has come but she has come on well from that Reisling run,” Freedman said.

“I think we are probably lucky to pick up someone like (jockey) Damian Lane at reasonably late notice because we only knew we were in the race pretty late.

“I think last year $150,000 missed out on a run so to sneak in with $85,000, it shows you how different it can be year to year.

“Had she not gained a start that’s probably the way we would have headed (to the Percy Sykes).

“She has had a nice couple of weeks since the Reisling and come on well.”

Tempted wins the Reisling Stakes in fantastic fashion for @JamesCummings88! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GOmVIuwBPP

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Marhoona went close to snaring ballot exemption into the Slipper at her second start when runner up to Tempted in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes.

Freedman is hoping the daughter of Snitzel learned plenty from the experience after she hit the front in the straight and fought back when Tempted went past her to finish a close second in the lead-up race.

“Jason (Collett) made that comment when she dashed to the front, she got a bit lost out on her own,” Freedman said.

“It was only when Tempted come alongside her, she grabbed the bit again.

“I think even on the line they were going to the line similarly watching the replay so hopefully she has learned a bit from that and hopefully can find a nice spot from the gate.

“You’d expect there would be pretty good speed on and leave it to Damian from there.”

🟢⚪️🟢⚪️
Marhoona (Snitzel x Salma) 2yo filly. Wins in debut at Canterbury for @MFreedmanRacing. Well done to Jason Collett and all the freedman team. @BreednetNewspic.twitter.com/BASbWusB4o

— Emirates Park (@EmiratesPark) February 7, 2025

• Ray & Duff’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill: $26 Slipper tip

Freedman won the Golden Slipper in partnership with his brother Richard with Stay Inside in 2021 while Lane snared his first win in the race aboard the James Cummings-trained Kiamichi in 2019.

Time To Boogie will give Freedman a two-pronged Group 1 attack with the talented sprinter set to get his chance in the $1 million The Galaxy.

The scratching of Ostraka saw Time To Boogie earn a start in the sprint feature as the first emergency with Reece Jones booked to ride.

Time To Boogie was runner up to Eagle Nest at the same track and trip in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes last weekend.

Eagle Nest – Rises Above the Rest! 🦅

The @RARacing_ stable scores a double at Rosehill with @RachelK11 in the saddle! 👏 pic.twitter.com/VAayQCKmEb

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 15, 2025

• Huge stakes for Waller’s $1.6m colt in Golden Slipper

“Horses like him aren’t easy to find races for when they are in that mid to high 90s in the ratings but he is rock hard fit and obviously loves that 1100m around Rosehill,” Freedman said.

“He’s got no weight on his back and a good barrier.

“We aren’t under any illusions about the massive step up in class but he’s pulled up really well and you don’t get too many opportunities in these sort of races with a horse that’s in-form and fit.”

Smart colt Enriched will go in search of consecutive stakes victories the Listed $200,000 Darby Munro Stakes (1200m).

The son of I Am Invincible was too good in the Listed Fireball Stakes earlier this month and is a $10 chance to continue on winning ways.

Enriched takes the inside alley and wins the Fireball Stakes for @MFreedmanRacing! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/OYSXy0MR9e

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025

• ‘They’ve got what it takes’: Alexiou’s simple Slipper message

“Obviously Autumn Glow is the standout and the short priced favourite and probably with good reason but I have been happy with my bloke,” Freedman said.

“I think he has trained on well since the Fireball a couple of weeks ago and if he can run a good race it will keep him in the mix for a race like the Arrowfield.”

Tommy Berry pilots Enriched.