Apocalyptic too good again in the 2025 Flight Stakes
Even with a résumé that includes top-line performers, Michael Freedman says nothing has excited him like Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic.
The brilliant filly completed a sweep of Sydney’s Princess Series crowns, adding the Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick to her earlier wins in the Furious (1200m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), confirming herself as the clear division leader.
For the trainer of 2021 Golden Slipper hero Stay Inside, the post-race assessment was emphatic.
“I haven’t been,” Freedman said.
“I think it is quite rare to see horses that can come out in their first four starts – she was unlucky here first-up in December – and then go Group Two, Group Two, Group One. It’s pretty rare air.
“She is a special filly. I’m a bit lost for words.
“You spend a lot of time in this business trying to find horses like this and the world is her oyster.”
Drawn awkwardly, Tommy Berry rolled forward to sit outside the leader on Apocalyptic ($1.65 fav) and the pair controlled proceedings before surging clear to beat Within The Law ($6) by 1-1/4 lengths, with Karinska ($26) close up in third.
Freedman said that positioning was a deliberate in-run switch when the prospect of facing the breeze arose.
“We didn’t necessarily want to be up as close as we were but I could see when Tommy thought he was going to be three-wide without cover again, we had discussed trying to avoid doing that,” he said.
“Sitting up at the leader’s girth was Plan B but great turn of foot. Great filly.”
Next steps remain open, with a Melbourne tilt or a spell under consideration; if continuing, the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) or Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) are on the radar.
Jason Collett was upbeat about the runner-up’s rebound from a kinder alley.
“Far better today. She was able to use the better barrier. Good to see her back on track,” Collett said.
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