Apocalyptic has not won since last year’s Group 1 Flight Stakes, but Michael Freedman is optimistic Saturday can be the day she returns to the winner’s stall.
The four-year-old daughter of Extreme Choice gets out to 1400 metres for the first time this campaign in the Group 2 Golden Pendant at Rosehill.
The $300,000 event will be Apocalyptic’s third run of the preparation, after an encouraging first-up third in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) was followed by a fifth placing in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) on September 12.
That is the lowest position Apocalyptic has finished in race, when she didn’t do herself or jockey Tommy Berry any favours by racing ungenerously in the home straight, and Freedman hopes some visits to the physio and the addition of a tongue tie will see her return to her best.
“She just wanted to hang in the straight a bit, which cost Tommy being able to actually ride her out properly,” Freedman said of the Sheraco Stakes.
“So, we’ve done a little bit of work with the physio and we’ll probably try her in a slightly different bit.
“It was just a bit frustrating that she really only straightened up the last 50 or 100 metres and she really hit the line strongly.
“Hopefully, if we can prevent her doing that again on Saturday, we can see the real her.
“But she seems to be going as well as she was 12 months ago and I think the 1400 is probably a better tempo for her.”
Apocalyptic is chasing her fourth win at start No 10 in a career that includes a narrow second placing in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and Group 2 wins in the Furious Stakes (1200m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
Her performance at Rosehill will help Freedman determine where to head next with the mare, who has a legion of enthusiastic owners through MyRacehorse.
“We’re just keeping a pretty open mind at this stage,” Freedman said.
“There are a lot of those nice mares’ races around, you’ve got The Invitation later in the spring, but we’re just taking it one run at a time at the moment.”
Apocalyptic has drawn barrier two in the field of nine, which is headed by Group 1 winner Lazzura.
