Apulia continues comeback with Perth Cup triumph
Apulia’s (Fiorente) recent plundering of Western Australian riches continued on New Year’s Day when the Lindsay Park-trained five-year-old followed up his recent win in the Ted Van Heemst Stakes (Gr 2, 2100m) with a victory in the Perth Cup (Gr 2, 2400m).
Ridden by William Pike, the entire finished strongly to beat Filthy Habits (I’m All The Talk) by a comprehensive 2.9 lengths. Forever Boy (Charm Spirit) finished a further 0.9 lengths further away in third.
In winning Thursday’s Group 2, Ben, Will and JD became the first members of the Hayes family dynasty to win the time-honoured event, with their father, David, having saddled The Fuzz (Danasinga) to finish second in 2009.
Apulia capped a successful coming-of-age West Australian raid, which did not get off to the best start when he finished unplaced in the Northerly Stakes (Gr 1, 1800m) last month.
Co-trainer JD Hayes lauded the Perth Cup performance and Apulia’s comeback overall.
“It was a bit of a sense of relief when we were in the first half of the field,” Hayes said.
“There was a possibility we were going to be back and behind a lot of horses, not where we wanted to be.
“The way it panned out was certainly perfect, glad to see the horse be able to show what he can do.”
Apulia placed second in the 2023 Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) but subsequent setbacks – a bleed and tendon injury – resulted in more than 12 months in rehabilitation.
He resumed with back-to-back wins in Melbourne last spring then travelled to Perth.
“He’s been through a lot, this horse, a true testament to his character,” Hayes said.
“[The] 357 days off before this preparation and he’s come back and come of age, affording him the time, we’re reaping the benefits now.
“This trip to Perth is going to be the making of him and (sets up a) fun autumn back home in Melbourne as well.”
Hayes said Apulia could now be aimed at the Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Flemington on March 28.
Bred by Meadowvale Pastoral Co Pty Ltd, Apulia hails from a family littered with lowercase black type, being out of Giannarelli (High Chaparral), a half-sister to the Group 2-placed winner Spot The Rock (Fastnet Rock). That pair are out of Can’t Hackit (Fasliyev), who won twice and finished third in Group 2 company.
Apulia is one of 11 stakes scorers for Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Fiorente (Monsun), who died in 2023.