Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Race-day recap
Michael Freedman sent out Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) to the G2 Furious Stakes a maiden, and the 3-year-old filly crossed the line as a new stakes winner for her sire.
Rosberg (Deep Field) puts his trainer Clinton McDonald in mind of the great Weekend Hussler (Hussonet {USA}) with a debut win in the Listed McKenzie Stakes.
Alpha Sofie (Capitalist) impresses her new trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman with victory in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Well-related Miewa (Maurice {Jpn}) knocks off a maiden victory at Moonee Valley, and has Nick Ryan dreaming of the G1 Victoria Derby.
Impervious (Farnan) snags a third career win, going back-to-back at metropolitan level for Tony Gollan.
Apocalyptic charges home to break maiden in Furious victory
Michael Freedman was victorious in the G2 Furious Stakes last year with the smart Manaal (Tassort), and a year later, he delivered another victory in the race with the 3-year-old Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice), who was having just her second lifetime start.
The daughter of Extreme Choice had ran second on debut last December behind subsequent stakes performer Gallo Nero (Wootton Bassett {GB}), and hadn’t been seen again on raceday until Saturday, where Tommy Berry booted her home from the 100-metre mark to beat Tupakara (Trapeze Artist) by a quarter of a length. G2 Silver Shadow Stakes winner Savvy Hallie (Helbent) was third).
“I was hoping I didn't end up with egg on my face running a maiden here,” quipped Freedman post-race. “She has been showing both Tommy (Berry) and I at home quite a bit. I was just hoping she would come and put in a good performance and give me some encouragement going to the Tea Rose, so to come away with a win is really special.
“I was just hoping she (Apocalyptic) would come and put in a good performance and give me some encouragement going to the Tea Rose, so to come away with a win is really special.” - Michael Freedman
“I was really dejected when we had to pull up stumps in the autumn because I thought she could be our genuine Slipper contender.
“But it wasn't to be, and it might have been a blessing in disguise because she went back out and had a really nice, long spell. There is a lot of her and she's still furnishing. I'm excited about what we've got and what will be to come, even in the autumn.”
Michael Freedman after Apocalyptic won the G2 Furious Stakes | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Berry was in agreement that the best was yet to come from the unexposed filly, especially as she stepped out to the mile.
“I just know Michael has got a big smile on his face right now,” he said. “He kept going on all week about how we were running a maiden in a race like this. It shows what we've thought of her for a very long time. We thought she was our (Golden) Slipper filly but we kept running into issue after issue with her.
“It's hard not to get excited about fillies like this.” - Tommy Berry
“She's come back in this preparation and knock on wood, hasn't skipped a beat. She's been trialling on these heavy tracks and hasn't liked them but still trying up against some proper Group 1 horses. It's hard not to get excited about fillies like this.”
Apocalyptic becomes the 15th stakes winner for her sire Extreme Choice, and the third from his 2022 crop. Extreme Choice's fee has risen to a career best of $330,000 (inc GST) this season.
Apocalyptic winning the G2 Furious Stakes | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Sales: Myracehorse, Freedman, and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) secured Apocalyptic for $400,000 from Coolmore Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: Apocalyptic is the second foal from Shadow (Medaglia D’Oro), an unraced full sister to multiple stakes performer Geist, out of a daughter of dual Group 1 winner Virage De Fortune (Anabaa {USA}). Her third foal, a full brother to Apocalyptic, sold for $1.7 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale this year to Chris Waller Racing, Mulcaster Bloodstock, and B2B Thoroughbreds, and she is due to foal to Pierro this spring.
Apocalyptic as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Rosberg debuts in style in McKenzie
Trainer Clinton McDonald was vindicated for turning down a substantial offer to send Rosberg (Deep Field) to Hong Kong when the 3-year-old colt scored in the Listed McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday. The colt defied the more seasoned stakes performer Stay Cosmic (Cosmic Force) to emerge victorious on debut by half a length.
It was also a welcome lift for McDonald after the earlier success of his former trainer Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes.
“It's a bit gut-wrenching to see Angel Capital, but to have this horse is something special,” McDonald said, drawing comparisons between the colt and seven-time Group 1 winner Weekend Hussler (Hussonet {USA}), who was trained by McDonald’s father.
“He's a horse that you should never compare, but he does special things that he (Weekend) Hussler used to do at home.”
“He (Rosberg) does special things that he (Weekend) Hussler used to do at home.” - Clinton McDonald
McDonald signalled that Rosberg will likely head to the G2 Danehill Stakes next, before a tilt at the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes later in the spring.
Rosberg winning the Listed McKenzie Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Shane McGrath paid $260,000 for Rosberg from Newgate Farm’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft, before Clinton McDonald Racing signed the docket for $750,000 at the following Inglis Ready 2 Run Sale.
Pedigree: Rosberg is the third foal and second stakes performer for triple Listed winner Sheer Pleasure (USA) (Birdonthewire {USA}), whose second foal Deep Pleasure (Deep Field) was second in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes. Sheer Pleasure missed last season to In The Congo and King’s Gambit.
Alpha Sofie on song for new trainers in Atlantic Jewel
Having her first start for new trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, 3-year-old filly Alpha Sofie (Capitalist) extended her winning streak to three from four starts when taking out the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Previously trained by Jason Edwards, the filly was twice a winner over the winter at Eagle Farm, and downed Custom (Street Boss {USA}) by two lengths to add black-type to her name.
“She's a filly that's done really well in her first couple of starts in Queensland, the Edwards stable up there did a fantastic job with her and they sent her down to us in brilliant order,” Coleman said.
“The (Jason) Edwards stable up there did a fantastic job with her (Alpha Sofie) and they sent her down to us in brilliant order.” - Katherine Coleman
“Really all credit goes to them. We've only had her for a short space of time and she's had a few nice pieces of work leading into this, including a jumpout at Pakenham. We've been really pleased with the work that she's done, but to see her come here and do it today, it takes it to another level.”
There is the possibility of a G1 One Thousand Guineas tilt in the filly’s future.
Alpha Sofie winning the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She's got a beautiful walk on her, she's just a really lovely filly, naturally, very athletic,” Coleman continued. “She's done everything with ease that we've sort of put in front of her so far. I'd say (off of) first impressions, hopefully there's enough horse there still that we can go on with it and maybe look to head towards a Guineas Prelude if she does well after today.”
Sales: Munetos Pty Ltd purchased Alpha Sofie for $150,000 at the Inglis Classic Yarling Sale from the draft of Davali Thoroughbreds.
Pedigree: Alpha Sofie is the first foal from seven-time city winner Sofie’s Gold Class (Hardspun {USA}), a granddaughter of Champion 2YO Filly Victory Vein (Mr Henrysee {USA}). Sofie’s Gold Class will have a daughter by Satono Aladdin (Jpn) bound for the sales next year, and she missed last spring.
Alpha Sofie as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Well-related Miewa notches maiden victory at Moonee
The well-bred 3-year-old Miewa (Maurice {Jpn}) shed his maiden status at start number five on Saturday, clinching the opener at Moonee Valley for trainer Nick Ryan. The gelding rocketed home once in the home straight to win by three quarters of a length over Ornos (Toronado {Ire}).
“He's never really shown great gate speed, but it was a lovely patient ride from Jordan (Childs),” said Ryan. “He just let him build into the race slowly, he was obviously following the favourite Godtfred Kirk. This horse has been banging on the door, all his runs have been good and, up to the mile today, he just really relished it.”
“This horse (Miewa) has been banging on the door, all his runs have been good and, up to the mile today, he just really relished it.” - Nick Ryan
The G1 Victoria Derby later in the spring is looming as a big target for the gelding.
“Early days, you're thinking you've got a Guineas horse or a Derby horse and I think we'd probably be looking at the Derby after today, but we'll see how he pulls up and where we go,” Ryan continued.
“He's a big sort of gross horse, he stripped fitter today third up and up in trip. I think the further we go, the better he's going to get.”
Miewa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: Nick Ryan paid $460,000 for Miewa at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was offered by Sledmere Stud.
Pedigree: Miewa is the fourth winner from five to race out of G3 Manawatu Classic winner Lady Cumquat (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), a half-sister to five stakes winners, including NZ Horse of the Year Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}). Lady Cumquat has a yearling filly by Russian Camelot (Ire) to follow, and unfortunately missed last season.
Third win for unstoppable Impervious
Farnan filly Impervious has never been outside of the placings in six career starts, and she continued the trend with a third win on Saturday at Doomben, following on from her Eagle Farm victory a fortnight ago. The Tony Gollan-trained 3-year-old hit the front early and could not be caught, beating Sunrays (Hellbent) home by a third of a length.
The victory kicked off a treble for Gollan, who trained four winners at the Eagle Farm meet where Impervious scored her last start victory.
Sales: A Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale graduate when bought for $80,000 by Wahha Thoroughbreds from Vinery Stud, Impervious passed in when offered at the following Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Impervious winning a Handicap at Doomben | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Pedigree: Impervious is the first foal of five-time winner Northern River (Ad Valorem {USA}), who is a half-sister to dual Listed winner Vinco (I Am Invincible) and Berimbau (Shamardal {USA}), best known as the dam of Imperatriz (I Am Invincible). Bahen Bloodstock and Kris Lees secured Impervious's half-brother by Stay Inside at this year's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale sale, and her dam is due to foal this month to Home Affairs.
