A stunning quality filly, Miss Finland won the Golden Slipper over 1200m and the Oaks over 2500m

Miss Finland is a bay mare sired by Redoute's Choice out of Forest Pearl, who was a daughter of The Oaks winner Moonshell (Sadler’s Wells), who herself is a full-sister to Doyen – winner of Europe’s Premier Weight For Age race the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. Also Europe’s fastest ever 12-furlong G1 winner, and Timeform Horse of the Year. Miss Finland was trained by top South Australian trainer David Hayes. Craig Williams was her regular rider throughout her illustrious career.

As two-year-old Miss Finland won on debut at Ballarat in early 2006, then again at Flemington in the Talindert Stakes (1100m). The filly came in second to Nadeem in the Blue Diamond at Caulfield, then proceeded to Sydney and won the 2006 Golden Slipper, which is the most lucrative juvenile race in the world over 1200 metres. A 2nd to Mentality in thee rich Champagne Stakes (1600m) followed in April before a spell until spring.

As a three-year-old, her stellar form continued, which saw her win the McNeil Stakes (1200m) fresh up and then the Tranquil Stakes (1400m), both at Caulfield. In October 2006 the filly ran 2nd to She Will Be Loved in the Edward Manifold Stakes (1610m), but back on her favourite Melbourne track, Miss Finland won the Vinery Stud (1600m) but could only manage 6th to Fields of Omagh in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley; a big step up in class for a 3yo. Only Shamus Award and So You Think have achieved this feat since 1986. However stepping up in distance back in her age group, Miss Finland won the prestigious Crown VRC Oaks, run over 2500 metres at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, as well as further Group One wins in the Thousand Guineas, Australian Guineas and Arrowfield Stud Stakes. She resumed as a four-year-old with a win in the Memsie Stakes, which was to be her only win in nine starts that season before retirement.

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 2005 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. Miss Finland had won the Vinery Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 18th in a triumph but connections then backed her up in the weight-for-age classic Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 28th and she ran a brave sixth.

It seemed an audacious plan to try again in the Crown Oaks extending her season out after the earlier success and tough Cox Plate assignment, but the filly handled the classic distance and strode clear with a brilliant turn of foot. Miss Finland gave champion trainer David Hayes his first VRC Oaks success when she careered away with the Group One classic at Flemington, holding out pre-race favourite Tuesday Joy and Anamato in the 2500 metres race for three-year old fillies. She became the first horse to win the Golden Slipper and Crown Oaks in the same year and delivered the Hayes family their first success in the prestigious Oaks after legendary trainer Colin Hayes twice had horses finish runner-up. With a strong pace set up front by longshot Mary Goodnight, jockey Craig Williams tucked Miss Finland in behind the leaders before rounding the field at the 600-metre mark and motoring up the final straight. She covered the 600 metres to the 400 metres in a scorching 11 seconds and Williams said he was confident of holding off the Gai Waterhouse-trained Tuesday Joy.

She comes from the Northern Dancer sire line and has a double cross of him in the fourth generation of her pedigree. Miss Finland now resides at Arrowfield Stud. Her best so far has been Miracles of Love who won the Gr.1 JJ Atkins. She is one of eight to race for Miss Finland, seven of whom are winners including Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes placegetter Bucharest (Deep Impact), Stakes-placed Woodbine (Hussonet) and Earth Angel (Animal Kingdom), five-time winner Nordicus (Dundeel) and Aivan (More Than Ready), a four-time winner in Japan.

RACE RECORD - 26: 11-5-1

EARNINGS - A$4,632,775

Golden Slipper Stakes (2006)

The Thousand Guineas (2006)

Crown Oaks (2006)

Australian Guineas (2007)

Arrowfield Stakes (2007)

Memsie Stakes (2007)

AwardsAustralian Champion Two Year Old (2006)

Australian Champion Three Year Old (2007)