Firstly, she is the fourth Golden Slipper winner in the last decade to win at her first race back as a Spring 3YO. While there has been a lot of talk about a “voodoo” with Golden Slipper winners, this is not strictly correct with the likes of Ha Ha, Guineas and Belle du Jour also winning on return.

“It was a great performance in the McNeil,” said Arrowfi eld’s John Messara, “as Haradasun is obviously an outstanding colt and our filly was backward in condition and she can only improve in the coming weeks.”

Not that Miss Finland’s performance is a surprise after her dominant win the Golden Slipper, which Greg Carpenter, Racing Victoria’s Chief Handicapper, described as “the most dominant performance in 10 years in the Golden Slipper.”

Miss Finland’s winning margin of 4 ½ lengths was the largest ever by a filly in the history of the Golden Slipper; the next largest winning margin being 3 lengths by Sweet Embrace in 1967.

The handicappers’ rating system changed prior to the start of last season and was brought into line with international methodology and Miss Finland was rated
108.

On the strength of this, Miss Finland was declared the Champion 2YO of the season. However, using the previous system, she would have rated 113, which surpasses the rating of any Golden Slipper winner (colt or filly) of the last decade including the likes of 2YO Triple Crown winner, Dance Hero, who broke the record in both the Golden Slipper and the Champagne Stakes in 2004.

“I think Miss Finland is one of those fi llies which could compete internationally, if she progresses well,” said Messara. “ Her grandam is the English Oaks winner, Moonshell and I do think she’s good enough to take on the Northern Hemisphere fillies and mares next year, but that’s for the future,“ added Messara.