While it was a supporting race on the undercard of The Everest, Apocalyptic’s return to the winner’s enclosure was a moment of great satisfaction for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry.
The mare, who secured the Group 1 Flight Stakes last year, had been below her best in the autumn and her first two starts this spring. Despite this, her work at home had consistently suggested she was an elite horse.
Freedman and Berry remained confident in the mare, though they acknowledged the significant challenges they faced in aiming to return her to her previous winning form. Their persistence paid off in Saturday’s $1 million Silver Eagle (1300m) at Randwick.
“It’s really, really satisfying because she has been going so well at home and just not executing on race day. I know how good she is when she’s right,” Freedman commented.
“We had to tinker around with a bit of gear for today with putting visors on and a lugging bit and it was great to see her back doing what I know she is capable of.”
Berry had Apocalyptic ($26) positioned midfield, and the four-year-old unleashed a powerful run down the outside to capture victory by a long neck from the game Skyhook ($3.20). The leader, Beiwacht ($2.40 favourite), battled hard but finished a neck further back in third.
The Silver Eagle acts as a crucial lead-in race to the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) in two weeks’ time, and Freedman is considering that possibility.
“As long as she pulls up okay, I can’t see any reason why we wouldn’t have a crack at a race like that because she is one of the better horses I’ve ever had anything to do with,” he stated.
Berry, however, expressed some doubt about the mare’s suitability for the longer distance.
“My only query with her is she’d had enough just on the line,” Berry said.
“There’s still an option to go to a Golden Eagle, and I know she ran that trip as a three-year-old, but I’m just not sure that’s her at the moment with where she’s at. I’ll leave it up to the team.”
Like Freedman, Berry was overjoyed with the result on Saturday, acknowledging the considerable effort that had gone into getting the mare back to form.
“She has tested our patience, but it was nice to get that win today,” he expressed.
“That roar over the line, I know it wasn’t a Group One, but it was more the feeling it was great for the whole team.
“I’ve been riding twenty years, and not many can do what she does at home on the track.”
Apocalyptic’s win provided Berry with a stakes double on the day, following his earlier success in the Group 3 St Leger Stakes (2600m) with So You Are.
Betting markets for the upcoming Golden Eagle are now open at leading Australian betting sites.
