Tempted has set an early benchmark for the fillies with an explosive return in the Eskimo Prince Stakes, now Apocalyptic gets her chance at a right of reply.
The Michael Freedman-trained three-year-old resumes in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, a week after Tempted trounced the colts and geldings first-up over the same course and distance.
The two fillies have never met but are on a collision course towards the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28 and a bold return from Apocalyptic will set up a tantalising clash.
“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.”
The winner of three of her five starts, Apocalyptic claimed the Furious Stakes (1200m) first-up in the spring, going on to add victories in the Tea Rose (1400m) and Flight Stakes (1600m) before finishing runner-up in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at her Melbourne debut.
Freedman admits it’s hard not to be optimistic about a horse who has achieved so much in just a handful of starts.
“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.”
Stablemate Manaal is an acceptor for the Expressway (1200m) and Triscay Stakes (1200m) as the four-year-old prepares for what Freedman expects to be her final campaign.
A mainstay of the yard for the past couple of seasons, the Group 1 winner is likely to retire to stud in time for the next breeding season, and Freedman wants to add to her CV in the interim.
“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.”
