There has always been a big boom on Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic following her flashing second on debut last December and we finally saw her back at the races at Randwick on Saturday and it proved well worth the wait!
Trained by Michael Freedman, Apocalyptic was sidelined with a lingering foot abcess following her debut last year, but with two recent trials under her belt the powerhouse bay took her place first up in the $300,000 Group II ATC Furious Stakes (1200m).
The least experienced runner in the field, she did everything right for Tommy Berry from barrier one and powered into the race when shown clear running in the straight.
Apocalyptic surged to the line with a well timed finish to score by a long neck over bridesmaid Tupakara (Trapeze Artist) with Savvy Hallie (Hellbent), who won the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes, a close third.
Freedman was relieved to find Apocalyptic was the filly he believed her to be.
“I was hoping I didn't end up with egg on my face running a maiden here,” said Freedman.
“She has been showing both Tommy and I at home quite a bit. I was just hoping she would come and put in a good performance and give me some encouragement going to the Tea Rose (G2 1400m), so to come away with a win is really special.
"I was really dejected when we had to pull up stumps in the autumn because I thought she could be our genuine Slipper contender.
"But it wasn't to be and it might have been a blessing in disguise because she went back out and had a really nice, long spell. There is a lot of her and she's still furnishing. I'm excited about what we've got and what will be to come, even in the Autumn."
Tommy Berry had nothing but praise for Apocalyptic.
"I just know Michael has got a big smile on his face right now. He kept going on all week about how we were running a maiden in a race like this. It shows what we've thought of her for a very long time. We thought she was our [Golden] Slipper filly but we kept running into issue after issue with her,” Berry said.
"She's come back in this preparation and knock on wood, hasn't skipped a beat. She's been trialling on these heavy tracks and hasn't liked them but still trying up against some proper Group 1 horses. It's hard not to get excited about fillies like this.
"She is very raw, she was a bit gassy in the run. She hasn't been to the races for a while.
"We said to the owners beforehand, no matter what happens today, 1400m to a mile is where we believe she is best suited.”
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 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 15th stakes-winner for Extreme Choice, who stands at Newgate at a fee of $330,000.
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