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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Michael Freedman says he’s not getting carried away with the way promising three-year-old Apocalyptic started her career but hopes it's a sign she can make up for some lost time at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Michael Freedman

While he could easily have gone to a maiden first-up, Freedman’s given a hint of how he views the filly by attempting to secure her first win in the Group 2 $300,000 TAB Furious Stakes (1200m).

Apocalyptic was one of the early Golden Slipper favourites after she split Gallo Nero and Memo at her debut back on December 28 and though he’s happy with how she’ll present he’s wary that was a long time ago now.

“A big track like Randwick should suit her. Obviously she’s taking on some good fillies who have the score on the board,’’ Freedman said.

“Her only start was a two-year-old race back in December so I don’t know if that’s relevant in terms of a form reference.

“But it’s a nice race to kick her off in and then we’ll see where we get to after that.”

It’s not unprecedented for a maiden to win the Furious Stakes, the second leg of the Princess Series, it’s now 15 years since More Strawberries achieved that back in 2010 - though she’d had four starts at two including a Golden Slipper placing.

Freedman said Apocalyptic, $4.20 with TAB on Wednesday, was denied her chance in the autumn by a pesky foot abscess but it could ultimately prove a positive given how pleased he is with what he’s seen in her two trials.

“That abscess just hung around forever, as they can do sometimes, and she was marking time for a fair while,’’ he said.

“By the time we got her going again she was well and truly behind the eight ball so we decided to give her a good spell.

“She’s quite a tall, rangy, type so we gave her a chance to fill into that nice frame and come back into the spring. She’s a nice filly and looking forward to getting her to the races.”

Tommy Berry rides Apocalyptic from the inside gate and he’ll also partner stablemate Sprit Of Wealth from a low draw in the Precise Air Handicap (1100m).

The four-year-old won on debut around this time last year and won her second start at Warwick Farm but was subsequently disqualified and she ended her prep running last in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes, as second favourite, behind Switzerland.

Freedman said she chipped a knee in that run so she had to have surgery and a fair amount of time off the scene.

“She’s done really well since she’s come back to the stable. She’s had two really nice trials and she’s ready to go,’’ he said.

Apocalyptic's latest trial at Hawkesbury on August 25

“She’s only lightly raced. We gave some consideration to keeping her to 72 grade but we thought this looks like a nice race on her home track. Hopefully she can progress.”

Michael Freedman on Wymark (race 5): “He seems to be coming along nicely. He had a shortened campaign in the autumn where he hurt his hind leg and had to go out. The mile might be a bit sharp for him first-up but hopefully he’s in for a decent campaign. There’s some good secondary staying races around for this sort of horse.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting