Having not been seen on race day since her success in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper (1200m), Champion 2YO Marhoona (Snitzel) put pay to any ‘Golden Slipper hoodoo’ to win the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes (1100m) at her first start at 3.
Having defeated a class field of juveniles in her Slipper win with a handful having recorded stakes success this season, the Michael Freedman trained Snitzel filly has been given two trials ahead of her return, and although she accepted to resume in the Group 2 ATC The Shorts last Saturday, connections decided to hold off a week.
Starting a narrow favourite over Peter Snowden’s boom colt Beadman (Snitzel), Marhoona was away fast from barrier four with jockey Tommy Berry allowing Hidden Motive (Capitalist) and Beadman to travel across from the widest gates to sit in the lead.
Tracking along in a lovely position in third, Berry commenced to pull Marhoona from behind the leading duo once Beadman had taken the lead as the field entered the home straight.
With Hidden Motive the first to tackle Beadman, Berry ambled up on the outside before asking for an effort at the 300m mark where the filly set out after the leaders.
Having the runners on her inside covered, it was left to Beadman’s stablemate Akaysha (Capitalist) to make a challenge down the outside.
Taking the lead clearly with 50m to run, Marhoona pulled clear from a wall of horses with the Snowden trained Akaysha and Beadman finish second and third, with Grand Eagle coming home strongly along the rail to finish in fourth.
Taking her overall record to three wins and a third from four starts with $3,221,650 in career earnings, Marhoona is likely to chase a second elite level victory and head towards the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on November 1 at Flemington.
If she can add the Coolmore Stud Stakes to her record, she will become the third winner of the Heritage Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double in the last five years, joining Home Affairs and Ozzmosis.
“She has shown it at home, but you never really know until you get them back to the races. A big thrill,” said Freedman.
“I was a little bit concerned when Tommy was sitting so pretty on her knowing there were race fit horses around her, so I was urging him to get going. She has such a great will to win.
“This filly is very sharp. Whether we stretch her later on we will think about that, but I think seven furlongs (1400m) will be fine, maybe not this preparation
“The plan was to run here and then run in the Coolmore,” he said.
Although Berry was racing wide once coming into the home straight, he felt confident that once Marhoona made her run, that others would find it hard to pass her.
“I was aware with her first start she had a big weight, so I wanted to wait a little bit," Said Berry.
"In her all races she has never won by a big margin, but trying to get past her is the hardest thing.
"She is very tenacious, and she has been very well looked after by Michael and his team at Emirates.
“She is a little bit stronger, she has not grown an inch, but she is very tough.
“It has been a while since we have seen a Slipper winner come back and win as a three-year-old so she has bounced back against that curse that has been hanging over her, especially the fillies, but I do not really know where her ceiling is.
“She is definitely better than the grade she was up against today, but she only does what she had to do so it is a bit hard to judge."
Marhoona is a homebred for Emirates Park and is one of four stakes winners from five to race out of the Encosta de Lago mare Salma, joining Group 2 winner Hilal, and the Listed winners Salateen and Trojan Harbour.
Unfortunately, Salma, who is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Big Time, has missed in each season since foaling Marhoona.
Marhoona is one of 24 individual Group 1 winners for Snitzel, who has been represented by three stakes winners this season headed by Group 1 Moir Stakes winner Baraqiel.
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