The Michael Freedman-prepared Marhoona took out the Golden Slipper a year earlier and has now notched up her second Group 1 triumph in The Galaxy.
“So much for the Slipper hoodoo,” Freedman said.
“I don’t think I’ve had a horse that’s just got as much tenacity as she does. She hates losing.
“She looked out on her feet at the 100m there and just refused to lay down, a bit like the Slipper last year. What a filly.”
The official ratings assessor nailed The Galaxy perfectly as nine runners flashed past the post separated by roughly a length.
Under Kerrin McEvoy’s ride, Marhoona at $12 managed to prevail, holding off the late-closing Jedibeel ($21) by a head, while the pacemaker Mazu ($18) held on gamely for third just a short head further back, and the high-weighted Briasa ($4 joint favourite) filled fourth spot closely.
There was plenty of action prior to the jump when market leader Grafterburners ($4) reared over backwards in the gates, tumbled out, unseating Golden Slipper rider Zac Lloyd and causing over five minutes delay.
Vets advised scratching Grafterburners, as Lloyd walked off nursing muscle strain in his leg and ankle.
Marhoona is the initial Golden Slipper victor to secure a Group 1 victory as an older horse since She Will Reign claimed the Golden Slipper and Moir Stakes back in 2017.
She now stands alongside the legendary Luskin Star from 1978 as the sole Golden Slipper graduates to conquer The Galaxy.
“We discussed before the race maybe ending up in the one-one,” Freedman said.”But, you know, Kerrin showed great initiative and just went and parked outside the leader.
“I knew when she was there she’d be certainly right in the finish, but I was a little bit concerned, maybe at the furlong (a200m) where I thought maybe she’s going to get sort of steamrolled, but she’s just got such an incredible will to win.”
McEvoy, registering his 88th Group 1 success, conceded he felt “a tiny bit worried” turning for home.
“But full credit to her, the more I asked, the more she dug,” McEvoy said.
“Michael said to me, ‘Look, she’s right in it with the weight’ and we were confident she would handle the ground.
“I was under pressure from the top of the straight but she kept fighting back.
“At the 100m, I was still there. It’s a nice surprise when they get off the canvas like that.
“She’s a star filly, its onwards and upwards from here. She’s won a couple of Group 1 races now so well played by Michael.”
Freedman indicated Marhoona heads next to the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 4, with a longer-range target being the Group 1 $20 million The Everest (1200m) come springtime.
The Brad Widdup-conditioned Jedibeel settled at the tail and trailed the field around the bend before storming home to narrowly fail Marhoona.
“He is in super order,” jockey Tommy Berry said. “He gave away a bit of start from the gate and just narrowly missed. It was a tough effort.”
Mazu produced another bold showing up front, relinquishing the lead right on the line. “He is going super this horse,” jockey Rachel King said of Mazu. “He has his quirks which we all know about, he likes to do things his own way, but he couldn’t be going any better.”
Briasa placed fourth in The Galaxy 12 months back before taking the TJ Smith Stakes, and Team Hawkes eyes a repeat at Randwick in a fortnight following another fourth in the key Rosehill dash.
“I thought he was terrific,” jockey Tyler Schiller said of Briasa.
“He got into a lovely spot from the wide gate, three deep with cover, and tracked into it nicely.
“His runcame to an end with the heavy weight and the wet ground. A couple with the pull in the weights got him but he did a great job.”
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