Michael Freedman is among the trainers closely monitoring the surface at Randwick prior to Apocalyptic’s matchup against Tempted in the Surround Stakes.
Although his Group 1-winning filly is set to compete no matter what, Freedman indicates his optimism would decrease if the ground worsens significantly past Friday’s soft 7 mark.
“I’m looking forward to seeing her back there. I am just keeping an eye on the weather,” Freedman said.
“Anything in the soft range would be OK, but if we got into that heavy range it may change things a wee bit.
“You probably can’t not run because she has never been on heavy. But I get the feeling she wouldn’t want it too wet.”
Having claimed three of the four Princess Series events last spring, Apocalyptic was beaten as the odds-on pick on debut this campaign, finishing runner-up to Savvy Hallie in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).
Freedman viewed that performance as “good enough” given the pace-favouring nature of the contest, and he has been encouraged by the filly’s subsequent training leading into the three-year-old feature.
Savvy Hallie returns as a Surround Stakes (1400m) opponent for her, joined by Tempted, though neither has solid form past 1200m unlike Apocalyptic.
Still, Freedman finds few flaws in either rival and concurs with betting support for the $1.60 top pick Tempted after her recent showings.
“I know a few people have queried Tempted at 14 (1400 metres), but to my eye she looks like she’d run it out pretty solidly,” he said.
“She’s run second in an Everest and was obviously impressive first-up. She’s the one that’s got the really good from going into it.”
While unsure about Apocalyptic coping with a rain-soaked track, Freedman holds no such doubts regarding Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) runner Manaal, successful in three of five outings on soft or heavy surfaces.
The mare kicked off her preparation with a solid second in the Triscay Stakes (1200m) and, benefiting from weights at Randwick, emerges as a top fancy.
“She’s a terrific mare. She’s always thereabouts,” Freedman said.
“She has a slightly tougher draw than what she’s had the last few, but if we do get a bit of rain and the track is genuinely soft, it might offset that.”
Freedman also fields Hardanger in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), calling the filly a reliable type set for another strong effort, while pondering if wide-drawn Outspan contests the Skyline Stakes (1200m) or awaits the Black Opal Stakes (1200m) in Canberra a fortnight hence.
“It was a pretty ordinary set up for him two weeks ago, unfortunately, and it doesn’t look much better for him this week if we don’t get a lot of scratchings,” Freedman said.
Betting fans can find competitive racing betting markets for the Surround Stakes this weekend.