Marhoona has made her first public appearance since winning this year’s Golden Slipper, holding out a host of well-performed sprinters to win a trial at Hawkesbury on Monday morning.
The Emirates Park-raced daughter of Snitzel scored a half-length win over Headwall in the 800m hitout, which also included Shangri La Spring (third), Jedibeel (fourth) and Ostraka (fifth), and trainer Michael Freedman was happy with what he saw.
“It was a nice trial, she looks to have come back in good order and she pulled up nice and clean after it,” Freedman said.
Marhoona jumped in third position and hugged the rail rounding the home turn to take the lead early in the straight and responded under moderate urging from jockey Keegan Latham to score.
Freedman was keen for the filly who has won two of her three starts, with a narrow second placing to Tempted in the other, to have a solid hitout given it is likely to be her only trial.
The $750,000 Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 is a first-up possibility, along with a couple of local options on the same day.
“I wanted her to finish it off without coasting to the line, so Keegan just kept her mind on the job a little bit and they ran very quick time,” the Randwick trainer said.
“It was good because wherever we go with her she’d probably go to the races off just the one trial and I was very happy with how she pulled up.
“I’m tossing a few ideas around, possibly in Melbourne in the Moir on Saturday week, or here in Sydney in the Concorde or the Furious. There are a few options for her.”
The $1 million Group 3 Concorde Stakes is also over 1000m with the $300,000 Group 2 Furious Stakes, which is restricted to three-year-old fillies, over 1200m.
The Furious is also an option for stablemate Apocalyptic, who stepped out in the same trial and finished sixth, beaten just over 1-1/2 lengths.
That daughter of Extreme Choice has had only had one start, for a second placing, splitting Gallo Nero and Memo, and Freedman thrilled with what he saw from her.
“She was very nice for a filly that’s only had the one start, she’s still a maiden against those sort of horses, so I thought she’d handled herself really well.”
Marhoona was not the only big name to step out at Hawkesbury with Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker taking out the 1000m open trial, while the two 1250m open workouts were won by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Melbourne Cup fancies Sir Delius and Vauban.
