Trainer and jockey quotes after Apocalyptic claims the Group 1 Darley Flight Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Apocalyptic (M Freedman/T Berry) - $1.65F
2nd: Within The Law (B Baker/J Collett) - $6
3rd: Karinska (C Waller/Z Lloyd) - $26
Winning Time: 1:35.88 Last 600m: 33.78
Margins: 1¼L x ½ Neck
The end is nigh… for the rest of the field!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 4, 2025
Apocalyptic sweeps past them in the G1 Flight Stakes to make it three from three this prep! @MFreedmanRacing @TommyBerry21 @MyRacehorseAU @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/dk6Nk71Wbc
Winning Trainer: Michael Freedman
On the winner: What a filly, just saying before for a filly having a fourth lifetime start, and she's won two Group 2s and a Group 1. I'm a bit lost for words."
"You know, as any trainer would attest, you know, you spend a lot of time getting up early and trying to find good horses to train. And when these sort of ones come along, they certainly make it easier to get out of bed in the morning."
On her development: "As I said after she won the Furious, I thought she was our sort of number one seed for the Slipper, but I've got no doubt now whatsoever that it was a blessing to be in a position where we had to stop. And I think just giving her that extra time and allowing her to mature physically and mentally was a big, big plus."
On the run: "We discussed before and I said look, I know we were three wide without cover the other day in the Tea Rose, but I said it's a bit different over the mile."
"So I said just at all costs avoid being three wide and I could see early in the race that's probably how it was gonna be, so I could see him pushing forward, making sure that that wasn't the case. When she relaxed and came back off that leader and was just going at a nice rhythm, I thought okay, well, if you're as good as I think you are, you should be a good watch."
On the future: "I'm not sure at the moment, 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."
"Look, with this stallion, I mean, he's sired a Melbourne Cup winner, so who knows? She's out of a Medaglia d'Oro mare, I don't know; it'd be hard to say."
"She could, whether she needs to or whether you want to, is another thing, but I think she's so versatile. Who knows, maybe something over a bit further later on."
Winning Jockey: Tommy Berry (to come)
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Beaten Jockeys:
Dylan Gibbons (Artistic Venture): "Really good run. Just didn't suit the sit and sprint shape of the race. Needs some room to build up."
Ethan Brown (Tupakara): "She just didn't muster underneath me early. We were forced to go back. Race wasn't run to suit. But I still would have liked to see her pick up a bit late."
Jason Collett (Within The Law): "Far better today. Was able to use the better barrier. Good to see her back on track."
Nash Rawiller (Queen Of Clubs): "She sucked back there at the start so she has given them a start. I don't think she liked that ground at all. I felt like she jarred up quite badly. See how she pulls up."
Zac Lloyd (Karinska): "She was fantastic. Acquitted herself very well. Will be an even better 4yo. Probably needs to strengthen up a bit. Just out on her feet the last 50m."
Kerrin McEvoy (Enviable): "That was a nice run by her. Had to go back from the gate. She was a nice filly hitting the line. Will be lovely in six months time. Whatever she is doing now is a bonus."
Adam Hyeronimus (Reflect): "She is a nice filly. Maybe a softer track would help her. It will come in time for her."
Tim Clark (Magenta Skies): "Obviously the tempo wasn't strong and she probably didn't quite adapt to that as well as some others. She still found the line OK. Will make a nice filly in time."
Reece Jones (Lighthouse Lass): "Obviously a step up in grade for her. I thought she acquitted herself well. Just need to come back and learn to relax a little bit more."
