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Michael Freedman’s two-year-old stocks continue to rise and while Apocalyptic didn’t match her stablemate Pallaton’s feat of scoring on debut at Randwick there should be plenty of wins in store as the new year unfolds.

The Extreme Choice filly could well have won the Petaluma Handicap (1100m) if not for a bit better fortune in the straight but she still sizzled home in 33.68 for her final 600m (Punter’s Intelligence).

That was just over a length faster than the winner Gallo Nero and the duo clearly produced the superior sectionals.

Apocalyptic had to be steadied at the 200m mark before darting through between horses so her race best last 200m of 11.72 could easily have been quicker. It was a promising debut and it’ll be interesting to see where she stands a bit later in the season.

There may have been some excuses for the beaten favourite Memo, she was forced three wide and did some work early (she ran 10.94 from the 800m-600m) and that told on her late.

The two-year-olds clocked an overall time about three lengths slower than the Benchmark 72 over the same distance a few races later.

It’s not often that the TAB Highway is run in faster time than the metropolitan class races but that was the case as Sir Remlap put himself in Country Championships contention with a big win.

He clocked 1:09.94 for the 1200m, almost a length faster than Left Field (1:10.05) in the Benchmark 78 for the fillies and mares and just under four lengths faster than Disneck in his Benchmark 78 win. That tells us there’s a bit of quality in this Highway.

Sir Remlap charged home in 34.33 from near the back, made more impressive as he was able to also post the fastest last 200m of 11.88 as he ran down Highway Strip.

The runner-up’s performance was brave after working hard in the middle stages and running off the track on the home turn. Consequently he covered more ground than any other runner (1207.7m).

He was first-up and that also told in the final 200m as he weakened (12.36 with a 35.23 last 600m) but still held second.

The winner can head toward the Hunter & North West Country Championships (Tamworth 9 March), Highway Strip the South East (Nowra 23 February) and the third placed Scopics is still eligible for the Central Districts (Orange 28 February).

It’s worth noting the performance of Disneck to win his event, making it back-to-back Randwick 1200m wins, as the overall time was quite slow compared to the other 1200m races yet he was dominant rounding them up from last.

The first 600m was run in 36.02, about 10 lengths slower than the Highway, so they had to dash home and you’d think Disneck would have his work cut out to sprint past them.

But the gelding clearly has a superior turn of foot as he ran home in 33.79 for his last 600m, four lengths faster than anything else, and was the only runner to break 12 seconds for his last 200m running 11.83. Amazing effort.

Emmadella has better things in store after her easy Midway win over the 1400m, she sailed home from just off midfield in 34.59 with plenty in hand. Worth noting also the run of Tiger Town, the only other to break 35 for the last 600m (34.78) as he looks for longer.

Fastest last 600m: Unstopabull 33.41.

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