Michael Freedman has prepared plenty of quality gallopers, but he says none has stirred him quite like Flight Stakes heroine Apocalyptic.
The three-year-old cemented her status as Sydney’s standout filly by completing the Princess Series, adding Saturday’s Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick to earlier triumphs in the Furious (1200m) and the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
Freedman, who also oversaw 2021 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside, didn’t hide his admiration.
“I haven’t been,” Freedman said.
“I think it is quite rare to see horses that can come out in their first four starts – she was unlucky here first-up in December – and then go Group Two, Group Two, Group One. It’s pretty rare air.
“She is a special filly. I’m a bit lost for words.
“You spend a lot of time in this business trying to find horses like this and the world is her oyster.”
From a sticky gate, Tommy Berry elected to be positive, parking Apocalyptic ($1.65 fav) outside the leader before letting her stride. She powered clear in the straight to beat Within The Law ($6) by 1-1/4 lengths, with Karinska ($26) a half-neck away in third.
Freedman revealed that map wasn’t the initial intention but circumstances forced Plan B.
“We didn’t necessarily want to be up as close as we were but I could see when Tommy thought he was going to be three-wide without cover again, we had discussed trying to avoid doing that,” he said.
“Sitting up at the leader’s girth was Plan B but great turn of foot. Great filly.”
Connections will monitor how Apocalyptic comes through the run before locking in her next move, with a Melbourne tilt or a spell under consideration. If they press on, the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) or the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) loom as logical options.
Runner-up rider Jason Collett was encouraged by Within The Law’s rebound from a kinder alley.
“Far better today. She was able to use the better barrier. Good to see her back on track,” Collett said.
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