Apocalyptic announces arrival with Furious Stakes triumph
Michael Freedman’s patience was vindicated at Randwick on Saturday as exciting filly Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) announced herself as a star in the making with a thrilling victory in the Furious Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
The least experienced runner in the field, Apocalyptic arrived at the second leg of the Princess Series as a maiden, her only start being a flashing second at Randwick last December that saw her briefly top Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) markets. However, a lingering foot abscess ruled her out of the autumn, leaving Freedman to nurse her through a long spell.
Ridden by Tommy Berry from the inside barrier on Saturday, Apocalyptic stalked the leaders before pouncing late, surging clear to defeat Tupakara (Trapeze Artist) by 0.3 lengths as a $5 chance.
Last-start Silver Shadow Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) finished another 0.4 lengths away in third.
“It has been unconventional but I’ve got a lot of faith in what I’ve seen from her at home,” Freedman said. “I thought she was our number one seed for the Slipper. It might have been a blessing she went back out and has started to furnish now.
“I was hoping I didn’t end up with egg on my face running a maiden here. She’s been showing both Tommy [Berry] and I at home quite a bit, and I just wanted to see her put in a good performance and give me some encouragement going to the Tea Rose, so to come away with a win is really special.”
Berry, who has partnered many top-class fillies, was glowing in his praise.
“It’s hard to keep a lid on her,” the winning rider said. “Michael kept going on all week about how we were running a maiden in a race like this, but it shows what we’ve thought of her for a very long time.
“We thought she was our Slipper filly but we kept running into issue after issue with her. She’s come back this prep and, knock on wood, hasn’t skipped a beat. She’s very raw, a bit gassy in the run, but she has so much quality.”
Freedman, who won last year’s Furious Stakes with Manaal (Tassort), has his eyes firmly on the Tea Rose Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) and Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) with the filly.
“She has always given me and Tommy the indication she’s going to love getting out over those longer trips,” he said. “Today was a stepping stone towards that, and hopefully she pulls up well so we can head on.”
Apocalyptic was a $400,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by MyRacehorse, Freedman and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock from the Coolmore Stud draft in 2024.
Bred by Kate Nivison’s Etak Thoroughbreds, she is the second foal and second winner out of Shadow (Medaglia D’Oro), a grand-daughter of dual Group 1 winner Virage De Fortune (Anabaa), from the family of champion Emancipation (Bletchingly).
The third foal from Shadow, by Extreme Choice, sold at Inglis Easter Yearling Sale this year for $1.7 million when purchased by Chris Waller Racing, Mulcaster Bloodstock and B2B Thoroughbreds. The mare was covered late last season by Pierro (Lonhro) after missing to Extreme Choice.
Apocalyptic is the 15th individual stakes winner for Extreme Choice, who stands at Newgate at a fee of $330,000 (inc GST).