Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Apocalyptic won the Group II ATC Furious Stakes (1200m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) leading into today and was a hot favourite to make it three wins on the trot.
Tommy Berry took luck out of the equation and went forward to sit behind the leader and when he set sail for home it was race over. She powered clear to win by more than a length over Within the Lawa and Karinska.
“What a filly, just saying before for a filly having a fourth lifetime start, and she's won two Group 2s and a Group 1. I'm a bit lost for words,” said Michael Freedman.
"You know, as any trainer would attest, you know, you spend a lot of time getting up early and trying to find good horses to train. And when these sort of ones come along, they certainly make it easier to get out of bed in the morning.
"I thought she was our sort of number one seed for the Slipper, but I've got no doubt now whatsoever that it was a blessing to be in a position where we had to stop. And I think just giving her that extra time and allowing her to mature physically and mentally was a big, big plus."
Bred by Kate Nivison’s Etak Thoroughbreds, Apocalyptic was a $400,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Coolmore draft for MyRacehorse Pty Ltd/Michael Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock and runs for a big syndicate of owners with Nivison also retaining a share.
She has the overall record of three wins and a second from four starts with prizemoney topping $800,000, but the surface has barely been scratched on this super talented filly and Freedman is yet to settle on a path forward for Apocalyptic.
"I'm not sure at the moment, I think we just get her home, see how she pulls up,” he said.
“Obviously, the Thousand Guineas (G1) in Melbourne is a possibility. The Empire Rose (G1) at Flemington on Derby Day is another possibility, or going to the paddock.
"She's done such an amazing job in a short space of time. I'd just like to spend a few days with her and see how she comes through it and work it from there."
Apocalyptic is the second foal and second winner from Shadow, an unraced Medaglia D’Oro (USA) grand-daughter pf dual Group I winner Virage de Fortune, whose grand-dam is the great champion Emancipation.
The third foal from Shadow is a grey colt by Extreme Choice that was sold in the Coolmore draft at Inglis Easter this year fetching $1.7million when purchased by Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock / B2B Thoroughbreds.
Shadow was bred by Godolphin and on-sold for $140,000 to Mitchell Bloodstock at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when in foal to Harry Angel (IRE), so has proven to be an outstanding investment for Etak Thoroughbreds.
After having a year off in 2023 she was covered late last season by Pierro after missing to Extreme Choice.
Apocalyptic is the sixth Group I winner for Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice, who stands at a fee of $330,000.
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