A big strong girl that stands above her rivals in the mounting yard, Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic again showed her class on the track with a dominant victory in the $300,000 Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Apocalyptic broke her maiden last start winning the Group II ATC Furious Stakes and as predicted by her connections was even more comfortable with the step up in trip.
She travelled a touch wide in the run and powered to the line in the straight, putting a clear margin of nearly two lengths over a pair of Trapeze Artist fillies in Artistic Venture and Tupakara.
Michael Freedman was in awe of the filly after her win and it will be all systems go for the Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) in two weeks time.
"I think she's pretty special," Freedman said.
"I was very impressed with her first-up two weeks ago but overcoming a few difficulties there today with the wide run, through no fault of Tommy's, we were always worried about that gate.
"To let down like she did, from a training perspective, you don't get too many horses that can do that."
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 two wins and a second from three starts with prizemoney topping $373,000.
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 provided Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice with a stakes double after his progressive colt Estremo won the Group III MRC Caulfield Guineas Prelude in Melbourne.
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