Apocalyptic ready to go in Light Fingers Stakes 2026

Apocalyptic will resume in Saturday’s Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, with trainer Michael Freedman anticipating a potential clash with fellow star filly Tempted later this autumn.

Tempted set a high standard with her dominant victory in the Eskimo Prince Stakes over the same course and distance, while Apocalyptic now returns aiming to launch her campaign in similar fashion.

Both fillies are on a path toward the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28, where a meeting between the pair could eventuate.

“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 won three of her five starts, beginning her spring campaign with victory in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) before adding the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).

She was last seen finishing second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at her Melbourne debut.

“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,” Freedman said.

“From a trainers’ point of view, when you get horses like that around you, it’s exciting.”

Stablemate Manaal holds nominations for both the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) as she builds toward what is expected to be her final campaign before retirement to the breeding barn.

“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.”