Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Apocalyptic poised to dominate the Flight Stakes
Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) is the raging favourite for the G1 Flight Stakes and with good reason.
Traditional sectional times analysts will say she did enough without being great in last Saturday’s G2 Tea Rose Stakes. They’ll point to the fact that her overall time was three lengths below standard and her last 600 metres ranked just 51st for the day.
How can you say she’s a good thing in the Flight Stakes?
There are two elements to this answer. The first is about Apocalyptic herself.
She’s a big, raw filly that wore her rivals down last Saturday as opposed to sprinting past them. The mile will suit her better, especially if fast run and there’s every chance she will be even better at 2000 metres. The other factor is the lacklustre crop of 2-year-olds last season. The spring 3-year-old races were there for the taking for a “newcomer” to stakes racing. Apocalyptic is that. She may not have to run a sensational time to beat them every start.
I suspect it will all come a bit too soon for her but the win from Just A Journey (Justify {USA}) at Canterbury last Wednesday might be enough for a crack at the Flight Stakes if Michael Freedman chooses.
Freedman trains Apocalyptic and no doubt will have a handle on where this filly is best placed. She led on a slow tempo and without doubt this filly will prove better in a fast run race. She was tenacious and on the line was pulling away from most of her rivals again with her last 200 metres ranking 5th for the day.
In a year lacking depth, she could at least place in the Flight Stakes on October 4 and at $67 in futures markets is worth a tickle, albeit you need to be wary she may not even run.
Joliestar shines in The Shorts with blistering finish
Back to Randwick last Saturday and Joliestar (Zoustar) was the standout with her G2 The Shorts victory. She used lane 9 in the home straight, the widest of any winner all day.
She also gave standard time seven lengths at the 600 metres but beat the mark by one length. Her last 400 metres was seven and half lengths above standard. With bonuses, she’s rated 95 on our database, up there with the better sprint ratings of 2025.
Chris Waller has a lovely hand in this year’s G1 Everest with Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) also in the 1200-metre contest next month. These two mares look the best chance Australia has of keeping the cash at home, with Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) a heavy odds-on favourite.
Fangirl unleashes trademark burst to claim 7 Stakes
Fangirl (Sebring) was back in the winners’ circle when she took out the 7 Stakes over 1600 metres. An open weight-for-age race that attracts Group-class horses. She was aided by the scratchings of Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who were almost certainly going to ensure the race was run at a fast tempo.
Fangirl typically prefers even to slow tempo, where she can use her acceleration.
Stablemate Lindermann (Lonhro) was ridden a treat by Nash Rawiller clocking even fractions in front but Fangirl’s last 400 metres was almost half a second faster than any of her rivals. And her being just four lengths off the lead at the top of the straight, meant bad things for her opposition. The way to beat her is by making her chase a long way out or making sure she is at least six lengths off the lead rounding the turn.
Estremo produces spark in Caulfield Guineas Prelude
Meanwhile, down at Caulfield another Waller runner Estremo (Extreme Choice) showed being deep in his first prep is no issue for this colt when taking out the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
Perhaps he’s been looking for 1400 metres all along?
Or, and more likely, the pedestrian tempo of the event played into the hands of the horse with the best turn of foot. The first 800 metres was run 14 lengths below standard, and you’d be wise to forgive Stay Cosmic (Cosmic Force) as he’s never really shown dash. That was the attribute you needed to win this affair.
Sepals sparkles, Sir Delius steadies, Half Yours looms for the Caulfield Cup
On the two Group 1s, Sepals (Calyx {GB}) was awesome winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in fast time but the runner-up, Miss Roumbini (Zoustar), is worth following. S
he ran a career peak rating here, and her first-up run this prep ranks three in her ratings chart. Clearly, she’s come back better than ever.
Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) didn’t do much on the clock winning the G1 Underwood Stakes but they went three lengths below standard through the first 1200 metres and over this trip he needs a faster tempo so his staying prowess can come to the fore.
Don’t worry about the clock, he’s the one to beat in the Cup.
If there is a horse that can knock him off it might be Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}), who beat standard time by three lengths, winning the G3 Naturalism Stakes and his last 200 metres ranked ninth for the day, suggesting he could’ve gone faster.
For mine, he should be a clear favourite for the G1 Caulfield Cup.
Best bet this weekend is Lady Shenandoah in the G1 Manikato Stakes. She should’ve won the G3 Concorde Stakes first-up and probably only has to be Baraqiel (Snitzel) this week.
