Endless prevails in dramatic Apollo Gr. 2 finish

Endless Drama gave Qatar Racing a first Group winner of 2018 when winning the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Endless Drama had finished third behind his mighty stablemate Winx and Hartnell in the previous year's renewal of the Apollo, and he landed his first Australian success here in a tight finish, beating the Gai Waterhouse-trained Global Glamour and Comin' Through, another stable-companion of Endless Drama.

It was a cracking ride from Tye Angland on board Endless Drama, producing him at just the right moment late on to get his head down on the line. After the race, the rider said:

"I was thinking the horses were going to come from behind but when I looked up Global Glamour had kicked well.

"To his credit, he [Endless Drama] dug in well and I'm sure he's going to improve a lot more with that run. He needed it."

Winning trainer Chris Waller said:

"It is a little special to get him back to win again after the injury. He comes here as [a] Group 1 horse and to get a win out of him is great after everything that went on. He is a lovely horse and it took us a little time to work him out.

"He probably needs that three or four weeks between runs but he is up to Group 1 quality. We just had to space his run to let him find his best."

Waller said Endless Drama and Comin' Through were both on course for Gr. 1 Doncaster Handicap, again over a mile and Randwick, while Global Glamour was likely to look to the Coolmore Classic as her Gr. 1 target.

Many European racegoers will remember Endless Drama from his time in Ireland with Ger Lyons, for whom he was runner-up to Gleneagles in the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2015 and third in the Lockinge Stakes the following season.

Endless Drama's win was the second leg on an across-the-world double on the day for Qatar Racing after Wesley Ward-trained filly Marching Fire broke her maiden at the second time of asking in a maiden special weight at Turfway Park. Meanwhile in South Africa, Tarsus carried the Qatar Racing colours into third on his debut at Kenilworth, where Carioca (representing a partnership that includes David Redvers) won on the same card.

credit: Australian Turf Club