Michael Freedman has confirmed classy filly Apocalyptic will push on to the spring’s next big test, the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday, after weighing up whether to give her a spell following a stellar Sydney campaign.

Fresh off her impressive victory in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick on October 4, the in-form daughter of Capitalist travelled south in top order, prompting Freedman to continue her preparation rather than send her to the paddock.

“I did give some thought to stopping and giving her a break, but she pulled up so we well after the Flight that we thought as long as she travelled down well and settled in well that it was worth a shy at the stumps,” Freedman said.

Apocalyptic was given a solid hit-out at Caulfield on Tuesday morning with Mark Zahra aboard, working alongside stablemate Just A Journey. Freedman said the gallop confirmed she was handling the Melbourne way of going and thriving in her new surroundings. “I’m pretty excited about her and she’s done a lot in a short space of time. I’m looking forward to the autumn with her as well. I think she’s one of the better ones that I’ve had anything to do with.”

Freedman said it was vital to familiarise Apocalyptic with the Caulfield circuit before Saturday’s Group 1 feature, having previously seen Sydney-trained runners struggle at their first look at the track. “That was why I was keen to give her a look around here this morning,” he said. “I’ve brought a few here and they find it a difficult place to get around. They seem to get around Moonee Valley better for some reason. She seemed to track on the right leg most of the way today. You could see at the top of the straight she was having a look, but that was the whole idea of coming here. I loved the way she worked through the line and Mark seemed really happy.”

Freedman also has Just A Journey nominated for the Thousand Guineas but confirmed she will instead run in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) after finishing runner-up in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes earlier this month. “It was a good run in the Manifold,” he said. “She’s a nice genuine type of staying filly and I thought the Ethereal would suit.”

Apocalyptic is among the top fancies for Saturday’s Thousand Guineas as she looks to add another Group 1 to her growing record. For punters looking to back her, full markets and offers are available via Australia’s best betting sites.