Australia: Marhoona noses Wodeton in Golden Slipper Stakes

Marhoona, who ran for the first time on Feb. 7, held off late threats from Wodeton and an unlucky favorite in Tempted to win Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia.

Ridden by Damian Lane, Marhoona closed from sixth between horses in a field of 16 to reach the front more than a sixteenth of a mile from the finish of the six-furlong race.

Marhoona, who paid $18.30 in American pools, won by a nose over 4-1 Wodeton, who was a half-length in front of Tempted. The 3-1 favorite, Tempted raced in traffic in the stretch and closed well once clear.

The $3.16 million Golden Slipper is the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds. The race had a bit of drama when the longshot Within the Law unseated jockey Jason Collett when the filly struck the inside rail on the backstretch. Within the Law sustained a cut on a hind leg. Collett was not injured, according to a report published by track stewards.

Marhoona, who is by Snitzel, is trained by Michael Freedman for owner and breeder Emirates Park. Marhoona has won 2 of 3 starts, beginning with a maiden race at Canterbury Park on Feb. 7. She finished second by less than a half-length to Tempted in her stakes debut, the Group 2 Reisling Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs on March 8.

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Marhoona was not confirmed as a starter for the Golden Slipper until early last week. The field was determined partially by runners who won qualifying races, and overall earnings.

Earlier on the Rosehill Gardens program, jockey James McDonald won consecutive Group 1 races on the brilliant mare Via Sistina in the $632,800 Ranvet Stakes at 1 1/4 miles against males, and the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas at 1 1/4 miles for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds aboard Broadsiding, Australia’s champion 2-year-old of the 2023-2024 season.

Both were strongly favored. Via Sistina, trained by Chris Waller, paid $2.20, while Broadsiding, trained by James Cummings, paid $4.60.

Via Sistina won her eighth career Group 1 in the Ranvet Stakes, emphasizing her status as a leading contender for Horse of the Year for the 2024-2025 season.

In the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs, Gringotts, ridden by Tommy Berry for trainer Ciaron Maher, edged Fangirl by a nose to win for the 10th time in his 20th start and his first Group 1. Gringotts paid $12.70.

Last November, Gringotts won the $1.96 million Big Dance Stakes at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

In the day’s final Group 1, Private Harry ($8.40) extended his unbeaten streak to five races in the $634,200 Galaxy Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs. He was ridden by Ash Morgan, who briefly rode at Santa Anita in California in the fall of 2022.

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