Apocalyptic confirmed her place among Sydney’s elite fillies with a stunning win in Saturday’s Tea Rose Stakes, handing trainer Michael Freedman another Princess Series triumph.

Despite being trapped three-wide without cover, the $3 chance showed her class when Tommy Berry asked for an effort, surging clear late to defeat Artistic Venture ($41) by almost two lengths, with Tupakara ($2.50 fav) close behind in third.

Freedman, who had been worried about the barrier before the race, was full of admiration for his filly. “I think she’s pretty special,” he said. “Overcoming a few difficulties there today with the wide run… to let down like she did, from a training perspective, you don’t get too many horses that can do that.”

The win followed her first-up victory in the Furious Stakes and she now dominates betting for the Group 1 Flight Stakes, firming into $2.20 favourite.

Berry said he never panicked despite being forced to cover ground. “I would have loved a heart monitor on Michael halfway around,” he laughed. “She’s got such a big stride… I didn’t really mind being wide on her, it was better than being in. We’ve had a big wrap on her for a long time and she’s living up to it now.”