Tempted has delivered a benchmark performance for fillies courtesy of her explosive win back in the Eskimo Prince Stakes, setting the stage for Apocalyptic’s rebuttal.
Michael Freedman’s three-year-old resumes action in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick this coming Saturday, a week after Tempted dismantled the colts and geldings division over the matching distance and track.
Unmet in competition thus far, these fillies are on a trajectory towards the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28, and a vibrant return from Apocalyptic promises a captivating battle.
“I guess there will be the prospect of us locking horns in the Surround,” Freedman said.
“They’re animals, so I never get too far ahead of myself, and I certainly never get over-confident with any horse.
“But I’m very happy with her and looking forward to getting her back to the track.”
Apocalyptic has triumphed in three of her five races, starting last spring with victory in the Furious Stakes (1200m), then securing the Tea Rose (1400m) and Flight Stakes (1600m), prior to her second placing in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) on Melbourne debut.
The handler admits optimism is hard to suppress for such a precociously talented individual.
“When you break your maiden in a Group Two, and then win a Group Two and a Group One at your next two, you don’t see it too often,” he said.
“From a trainers’ point of view, when you get horses like that around you, it’s exciting.”
Barnmate Manaal is nominated for the Expressway (1200m) and Triscay Stakes (1200m) during her four-year-old’s build-up to an expected farewell campaign.
Integral to the operation lately, the Group 1 scorer is due for breeding retirement next year, spurring Freedman to chase additional stakes glory.
“This will probably be her last campaign, I’d suggest, before she goes off to the breeding barn, so I’d love to try to pick up another stakes win for the Emirates group,” Freedman said.
“She has been here since the Gimcrack and she’s still matching strides (with the better mares).
“She’s never been what you call a headliner, but it’s rare to see them win before Christmas, a stakes winner at two, stakes winner at three and then a stakes winner at four. It’s a pretty good resume.”
Don’t miss the betting markets for the race in the Light Fingers Stakes.
The post Apocalyptic set to Light up Randwick first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
