Classy filly Appearance has continued her perfect start to 2014, racing away from the pack in the final straight to claim the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick today.
Appearance has made it two wins from as many starts in 2014 by winning the Group 2 Apollo Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart
Having claimed the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick two weeks ago, Appearance settled just behind the leaders in the Apollo Stakes, rounding the bend with a good passage and sprinting clear of her rivals to finish a length ahead of Speediness and outsider Moriarty.
Trainer Guy Walter has been impressed with the form of the talented Commands mare this preparation, and revealed a run in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on March 8th is now the target.
“She’s such a great little mare, she’s just getting better and better I think” Walter said following the triumph.
“I thought maybe second-up she was going to be vulnerable and it would be today because she was so very, very good first-up but she’s done it again.
“Here were are with all these great performances behind her; she’s only had eighteen starts for 8 wins, it’s such a phenomenal record.
“She’s such a good mare. Hopefully we’re onto the Chipping Norton.”
Jockey Blake Shinn laid all the praise on Appearance following their second Group 2 win together in as many starts this preparation.
“We had it pretty right again today and she’s a dominant winner again” Shinn told the media immediately after the Apollo Stakes.
“It was sort of a messy run race which it was always going to be; I elected to come up three wide to follow jimmy (Cassidy, jockey on Speediness) and that sort of flashed Nash (Rawiller, jockey on Boban) out four wide and I was in a tricky situation, but I knew I was on the best horse.
“I put her into clear running, and when you’ve got horses like these they do it all for you.
“She’s a champion mare.”
Ladbrokes.com.au is offering the best odds on all 2014 autumn races, including the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes.
Open and account and bet at Ladbrokes.com.au to ensure the best possible returns throughout 2014!
2014 Apollo Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | APPEARANCE | Guy Walter | Blake Shinn | – | 2 | 57kg | $2.60F |
| 2 | 4 | SPEEDINESS | Colin Scott | Jim Cassidy | 1.5L | 4 | 59kg | $7.50 |
| 3 | 2 | MORIARTY (IRE) | Chris Waller | Corey Brown | 1.7L | 7 | 59kg | $31 |
| 4 | 1 | BOBAN | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 2L | 6 | 59kg | $2.80 |
| 5 | 5 | HOWMUCHDOYOULOVEME | Jim Litt | Jason Collett | 2.1L | 5 | 59kg | $12 |
| 6 | 7 | RAIN DRUM | Gai Waterhouse | Tommy Berry | 2.2L | 3 | 59kg | $8 |
| 7 | 8 | ALMA’S FURY | Paul Murray | Tim Clark | 3.2L | 8 | 59kg | $41 |
| 8 | 9 | TREMEC (NZ) | John P Thompson | Nathan Berry | 7.1L | 1 | 59kg | $201 |
