Michael Freedman is hopeful that Apocalyptic can find her way back to the winner’s circle this Saturday, a feat she hasn’t achieved since last year’s Group 1 Flight Stakes.
The four-year-old mare, a daughter of Extreme Choice, is set to tackle 1400 metres for the first time this preparation in the Group 2 Golden Pendant at Rosehill.
This $300,000 event will be Apocalyptic’s third run this campaign. She began with an encouraging third in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m), followed by a fifth placing in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) on September 12.
The Sheraco Stakes saw Apocalyptic finish in her lowest position to date, where she raced ungenerously in the home straight, impacting jockey Tommy Berry’s ability to ride her out. Freedman anticipates that recent physiotherapy and the addition of a tongue tie will contribute to her improved performance.
“She just wanted to hang in the straight a bit, which cost Tommy being able to actually ride her out properly,” Freedman said of the Sheraco Stakes. “So, we’ve done a little bit of work with the physio and we’ll probably try her in a slightly different bit. It was just a bit frustrating that she really only straightened up the last 50 or 100 metres and she really hit the line strongly.”
“Hopefully, if we can prevent her doing that again on Saturday, we can see the real her. But she seems to be going as well as she was 12 months ago and I think the 1400 is probably a better tempo for her.”
Apocalyptic is chasing her fourth career win in her tenth start. Her previous highlights include a close second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and Group 2 victories in the Furious Stakes (1200m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
Her run at Rosehill will be instrumental for Freedman in charting her future course, with the mare carrying the support of many enthusiastic owners through MyRacehorse.
“We’re just keeping a pretty open mind at this stage,” Freedman revealed. “There are a lot of those nice mares’ races around, you’ve got The Invitation later in the spring, but we’re just taking it one run at a time at the moment.”
Apocalyptic has drawn barrier two in the nine-horse field, which is headlined by Group 1 victor Lazzura.
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