Slipper winner’s disappearing act

Michael Freedman has achieved a lot in his training around the world but keeping Golden Slipper winner Marhoona off the radar this spring might be the most unique.

Golden Slipper victory usually brings with it attention and speculation of where the next Group 1 will come, but Marhoona has quietly slipped into The Shorts without fanfare and at double-figure odds.

Marhoona has the lowest profile of the Golden Slipper’s 69-year history.

It’s much like Freedman himself, quiet and efficient. He has been part of five Golden Slipper winners before the Snitzel filly and admits this is different.

“There isn’t that much fuss around her,” Freedman said. “The other Slipper winners I have been a part of, people have wanted to know all about them. It is generally what comes with winning it.”

“We are getting her ready for the Coolmore Stud Stakes, which is the only Group 1 for her in the spring, but she is hard to place.”

Marhoona was one of the last horses into the Golden Slipper, and took advantage of a perfect set-up to beat Wodeton and Tempted, which both have higher profiles than her.

Freedman is not married to running in The Shorts, with the Heritage Stakes an option to start Marhoona’s push towards the Coolmore next week.

“With a Group 1 winning three-year-old there aren’t that many races for them because you are forced to carry a penalty. The Furious Stakes is set weights for the fillies, but it doesn’t fit with getting to the Coolmore,” Freedman said. “I want to get the program right for her.”

“Even this race on the weekend, she is awfully weighted, only having a kilogram less than Joliestar, but she is ready to go. However, we might wait for next week with 58kg against her own age.”

“It was always going to be a light spring for her. She would have one more run and then head for Melbourne and the Coolmore.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic will take the step up to 1400m in the Princess Series in the Tea Rose following her winning return in the Furious Stakes.

She is a $3 favourite for Saturday’s Group 2 and leads betting for next month’s Flight Stakes at the same quote, but Freedman wants to see if she can be as dynamic at 1400m.

“It is a different set-up to last time and Tommy [Berry] is going to have to ride a race on her in the Tea Rose,” Freedman said. “I feel the 1400m will suit her, but we are also looking to see if she is ready for the mile.”

“The way she is I think that she will be at her best at 1400 and a mile but this is definitely a test for her on the weekend.”

“They are two nice fillies to have, which we can target at good races.”