Apocalyptic, Green Spaces and Savvy Hallie, three of the most outstanding three-year-olds of their generation, look set to be major players in the spring carnival after impressive barrier trial efforts at Rosehill Gardens this morning.
The Michael Freedman-trained Apocalyptic wasn’t put under any real pressure in her trial but was still able to win the all-star heat 900m heat narrowly from Chilly Girl in 55.57s with a final 600m sectional of 33.41s.
1⃣ Apocalyptic
2⃣ Chilly Girl
3⃣ HeadwallA solid trial win for the @MFreedmanRacing mare, taking out a 900m Rosehill heat on Friday. Behind the placings were Private Eye, Screen Icon, Generosity, Mal Coupe and Lazzura. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/aLV6yM5DHj
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 6, 2026
Freedman sent Apocalyptic for a long break after the filly wasn’t quite herself in a two-start autumn campaign but on her trial effort his morning, she seems ready to regain her outstanding form from last spring when she reeled off wins in the Group 2 Furious Stakes, Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes and Group 1 Flight Stakes.
“I’m really happy with Apocalyptic, she seems to be in great order,” Freedman said.
She will head to the Toy Show Quality (Group 3, $250,000, Royal Randwick, 1100m) in a couple of weeks (August 22). Those looking for the best bonus bets Australia will no doubt be keeping a close watch on her return.
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Chilly Girl, winner of her only start in the Widden Stakes last season, mixed it with the older horses in a very competitive trial effort suggesting she is a three-year-old filly to follow.
Apocalyptic won her trial in a tight finish with a half length separating the top four finishers with Headwall (third) and Private Eye (fourth) producing eye-catching efforts.
Everest hopeful Headwall is on the comeback trail but looks in superb order and is being readied for a comeback in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick earlier next month. Headwall hasn’t raced since winning the Concorde nearly 12 months ago. Private Eye, the evergreen nine-year-old and winner of nearly $13 million, has some residual fitness from a Brisbane winter campaign where he ran a close fifth in the Stradbroke Handicap. He is set to defend his title in the Group 2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15.
“He’s a great, old horse,” Pride said of Private Eye.
“It’s a pleasure to train him, he’s so tough and is going really well. He will be hard to beat at Caulfield next week.”
Chris Waller’s top mares Generosity (sixth) and Lazzura (eighth) were given very quiet trials behind Apocalyptic.
In the opening Group and Listed barrier trial over 1000m, Matcha Latte finished strongly to defeat Stardom in in 59.99s (last 600m in 35.44s).
Cherry Bomshell, who won the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes to close out a promising juvenile season, ran a pleasing third just head of ATC Australian Derby hero Australian Derby hero Green Spaces.
Godolphin’s Green Spaces, trained by Bjorn Baker, was very strong through the line and is on track for a return to racing in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22.
The Matthew Smith-trained Idle Flyer, winner of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes last autumn, was given an easy trial but was strong past the past finishing sixth, beaten less than two lengths behind Matcha Latte.
Idle Flyer, a stablemate of Headwall, is expected to resume racing in the either the Toy Show Quality or the Group 3 $250,000 Show County Quality (1200m) on Winx Stakes Day.
The third of the Group and Listed trials at this morning’s Rosehill session was won by Savvy Hallie.
The Brad Widdup-trained Savvy Hallie, who defeated Apocalyptic in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes and was narrowly beaten by the outstanding Tempted in the Group 1 Surround Stakes, led most of the way in her 900m trial to win by nearly two lengths in 56.09s (last 600m in 33.87s).
El Castello showed good speed to claim second, just ahead of Declichy Boulevard, while emerging three-year-old Berzelius finished off the trial nicely to finish fourth.
