3-year-old Summary: ‘Something special’ Apocalyptic wins G1 Flight Stakes

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Apocalyptic all class in G1 Flight Stakes

Punters sent out 3-year-old filly Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) at $1.65 for the G1 Flight Stakes, and she justified the price with a one and a fifth length victory for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry. Having run second at her only start at two, Apocalyptic has been the best filly of the spring, winning all her three starts this time in.

An incredible sixth Group 1 winner for Extreme Choice, who has only 137 runners, Apocalyptic is one of 16 stakes winners for the sire sensation.

Apocalyptic resumed at three with victory in the G2 Furious Stakes before winning the G3 Tea Rose Stakes last start. The win takes her record to three wins from four starts with earnings over $800,000 for her owners MyRacehorse No. 1, Etak Thoroughbreds, and partners. She was bred by Etak Thoroughbreds.

“I’m a bit lost for words,” Freedman said. “I think we just get her home, see how she pulls up. Obviously, the Thousand Guineas in Melbourne is a possibility.

“The Empire Rose at Flemington on Derby Day is another possibility, or going to the paddock.”

“She's done such an amazing job in a short space of. I'd just like to spend a few days with her and see how she comes through it and work it from there.”

Jockey Tommy Berry was similarly unable to put the victory into context. "I thought I was pretty good when I was young and it took me a bit of time to mature- she might be a bit like myself,” Berry said.

“She’s a big frame, she still gets a little bit hot before the races, but when we were walking back with the pony, you could have put her back in a box.

“It’s just exciting – I’m lost for words with her, because I think she could be something special.”

Sales info: Sold by Coolmore Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Apocalyptic was purchased by MyRacehorse, Michael Freedman, and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock for $400,000.

Pedigree info: Apocalyptic is the second foal and second winner for unraced Shadow (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) whose first foal is minor winner Mr Markle (Harry Angel {Ire}). Shadow has an unnamed 2-year-old full brother to Apocalyptic and is carrying a November covering to Pierro. Apocalyptic’s full brother was purchased by Chris Waller, Mulcaster Bloodstock and B2B Thoroughbreds at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $1.7 million from Coolmore Stud.

Shadow is a full sister to G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (f)-placed Geist, and both are out of unraced Wraith (Exceed And Excel), a daughter of dual Group 1 winner Virage De Fortune (Anabaa {USA}) who descends from Champion racemare Emancipation (Bletchingly).

Gelded McGaw stuns the colts in the G2 Danehill Stakes

With several well-bred colts taking their place in the G2 Danehill Stakes, it was the gelding McGaw (I Am Immortal) and John McArdle-trained filly My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) who ended up fighting out the finish. Only a nose separated them on the line, with Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) one and a half lengths back in third.

Trained by Emma-Lee and David Browne, McGaw was unbeaten in two starts at two including the $1 million VOBIS Showdown. Back at three, he resumed with a second in the G3 HDF McNeil Stakes before a flat fifth in the Listed Poseidon Stakes last start.

McGaw took his record to three wins from five starts and over $880,000 in prizemoney for his ownership group of Sparta Racing, G'Out Syndicate, Vella Racing, and partners.

“He was super. Obviously a talented horse and a bit of a big goof. He doesn't make things easy for you at time. I tried to sit him in behind last start but it didn't work for him. He got his head up and wanted to charge,” said jockey Damian Lane.

“Slow away today and I wanted him to get into stride and find his feet. He was really strong when it counted and he beat some quality horses.

“Even more importantly, when he was on his own he pricked his ears and started to travel kinder. We've always said he's doing it on raw ability and he'll get better but I think that is just him.”

His trainers didn’t nominate a target for him, and given his gelded status, the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes isn’t as much of a priority as for the colts. “We'll let the dust settle. He's a gelding so there are plenty of options. We'll do what is best for the horse,” said David Browne.

Sales info: Sparta Racing paid $14,000 for McGaw at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from Stonehouse Thoroughbreds draft. He was bred by Havaparty Investments.

Pedigree info: McGaw becomes the second stakes winner for I Am Immortal. One of three winners for Listed Ryder Stakes winner Niki Piki Milo (NZ) (Librettist {USA}) whose other winners are McGaw’s year older full sister I Am Piki and Green Hero (Rubick). Niki Piki Milo has 2-year-old full sister to McGaw and a Supido yearling colt. She is currently carrying a November covering to I Am Immortal.

Niki Piki Milo is a half-sister to four stakes placed winners being G1 Telegraph Stakes-placed Navigator (NZ) (El Roca), G1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas-placed Bella Gioia (NZ) (Swiss Ace), G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes-placed Bella Mente (NZ) (El Roca), and Listed Ryder Stakes-placed The Dom (NZ) (Swiss Ace).

G2 Edward Manifold Stakes won by So You Think filly

That’s one way to win your maiden. Danny O’Brien-trained 3-year-old filly Getta Good Feeling (So You Think {NZ}) had to work for the victory in Saturday’s G2 Edward Manifold Stakes. Caught in traffic with a furlong to go, jockey Billy Egan had to find a pathway through before setting Getta Good Feeling alight so she could fly home and take her first career win by a nose.

The front runner, Michael Freedman-trained Just A Journey (Justify {USA}), was brave in defeat with Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained Mating Call (Brazen Beau) half a length back in third.

“She's our filly for the Oaks this season. We always planned to get her here for the Wakeful and the Oaks,” said O’Brien about the Pinecliff Racing owned filly.

“She was going to be a good thing beaten. Unfortunately she was in a bit of traffic when the race got moving and Billy (Egan) had to wait and wait and wait. When things got moving she hit the line and we've seen a little glimpse of what she'll be able to do when she gets to a Wakeful and an Oaks.

“Getting out to the mile at a big track, we always thought she'd attack the line. The way she launched late give us plenty of confidence for the rest of the spring. She'll run at Caulfield. The Thousand Guineas and the Ethereal are on the same day but I'll have a chat to Jonathon (Munz). She's nommed for the Thousand Guineas and we'll decided which one she runs in closer to the date.”

Sales info: Bred by Phoenix Broodmare Farm, Getta Good Feeling was sold by them at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $400,000 to Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA). She was offered through Milburn Creek’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft where Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock purchased her for $525,000.

Pedigree info: Getta Good Feeling becomes stakes winner number 66 for So You Think. A half-sister to G3 CS Hayes Stakes winner and dual Group 1-placed Elliptical (Dundeel {NZ}), Getta Good Feeling is one of four winners for winning mare Marquise Da Rossa (Testa Rossa). Marquise Da Rossa has a 2-year-old full sister to Getta Good Feeling and a yearling filly by Alabama Express. She slipped her 2025 foal, so is empty this spring.

Listed Dulcify Stakes won by lightly raced Attica

Champion sire Lonhro is closing in on the magic 100 stakes winners now that Joe Pride-trained 3-year-old colt Attica became number 98 in winning Saturday’s Listed Dulcify Stakes at Randwick.

The colt, having his third start, drew wide for jockey Adam Hyeronimus who came down the middle of the track to fly past the leader Michael Freedman-trained Ruination (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to win by nearly two lengths with John Sargent-trained Flying Orchid (Flying Artie) in third.

A winner on debut, the Godolphin bred and owned colt has earnings over $220,000. He will be aimed at the G1 Spring Champion Stakes.

“It’s a hard task to keep your testicles when you are in my stable. I’m a pretty hard marker and I do like cutting horses,” said Pride referring to the gelding process.

“Godolphin are an amazing addition to my ownership ranks and they are going to want a few left as colts. When they race like that, it doesn’t matter, he can stay a colt.”

On the next target, Pride wasn’t keen on the G1 Victoria Derby. “Definitely won’t be the Derby, I’m not interested in pushing him out to those distances. In three weeks time, the Spring Champion is on and there’s also the Callander-Presnell over a mile which is worth a million dollars. Theres a bit to think about and he’s a really nice horse who is only going to get better with age.

“He really switches off and that’s going to be an attribute to him when he can finish off like that.”

Sales info: A homebred for Godolphin.

Pedigree info: From Lonhro’s penultimate crop, Attica is the first foal of five-time Group 2 winner Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) who won 12 races and over $2.3 million. Savatiano was also three times Group 1 placed. Her 2-year-old colt has been named Sabates (Palace Pier {GB}) and she has an I Am Invincible yearling colt. She missed to Extreme Choice and is empty this spring.

Savatiano is one of three stakes winners for winning mare Retsina (Redoute’s Choice). The other two are G2 Moreton Cup winner Vilano (Hallowed Crown) and dual Listed winner Athiri (Lonhro). Retsina is a daughter of Group 1 winner Star Shiraz (Sequalo).

Options gives Godolphin a stakes double in Listed Super Impose Stakes

Godolphin unearthed two new stakes winning colts on Saturday with Attica (Lonhro) winning the Listed Dulcify Stakes in Sydney and in Melbourne, it was Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained colt Options (Impending) who won the Listed Super Impose Stakes over 1800 metres in a thrilling finish.

With 350 metres to go, Options was at least six lengths off the leaders but jockey Harry Coffey didn’t panic and the colt accelerated to reel in the leading bunch and dove on the line to win by a head from Nick Ryan-trained gelding Miewa (Maurice {Jpn}) with Chris Waller-trained Officiate (Justify {USA}) in third.

Winner of his first two starts, then placed last start, Options took his record to three wins from four starts with earnings over $173,000. "He's a beautiful colt and well bred. It is exciting for our team. Credit to Harry. We had a discussion about taking the blinkers off and we both felt that he'd learn more having to race without them and he was fantastic,” said Calvin McEvoy.

“This horse might be a real live Derby chance. We're keen to run him at The Valley (Vase) and keen to back him up in the Derby.

“He's the most beautiful colt and he handles the work. Today was a test to see if he needed the blinkers on and see if he hit the line to prove he's a Derby horse, and that he did. It was a bit of a risky move for a horse who should be three from three but it all worked out well.

“He was always a bit green hence why he had the blinkers on for his final trial with James (Cummings) before we took over.”

Sales info: A homebred for Godolphin.

Pedigree info: Options becomes the fourth stakes winner for Impending. Options is the fourth foal and third winner for unraced Alternatively (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) who has Victor Ludorum (GB) 2-year-old colt, missed for 2024, and has no record for 2025. She was sold by Godolphin at the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, carrying the Victor Ludorum colt, for $7500 to John W Ramsay.

Alternatively’s second dam is G1 Blue Diamond winner Danelagh (Danehill {USA}), dam of three stakes winners led by Hong Kong Horse of the Year Vengeance Of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who won three Group 1 races in Dubai and Hong Kong. Vengeance Of Rain’s full sister Dizelle won the G1 Australian Oaks and produced G1 Victoria Oaks winner Pinot (Pierro) and Listed winner Dizlago (Encosta De Lago).

The other stakes winner for Danelagh is Listed winner Bernica (Elusive Quality {USA}), dam of G2 Tulloch Stakes winner Old North (Lonhro). Their half-sister 2-year-old winner Intiba (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) is the dam of Alternatively.