Tempted was beaten as favourite in a 1400-metre Group 1 second-up last campaign, but trainer Ciaron Maher is confident there will be no repeat this time around.
The daughter of Street Boss goes into this Saturday’s $750,000 Surround Stakes at Randwick three weeks after humbling her rivals in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).
Tempted was a similarly explosive winner of the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) first-up in spring, two weeks before her third placing behind colts Beiwacht and Wodeton in the Golden Rose, and Maher is much happier with this campaign.
“We were two weeks into the Group 1 last prep, up from the 1200 to 1400,” Maher said.
“She ran near her peak first-up over 12, so it’s hard to run back to your peak in two weeks after a peak run fresh up.
“That’s why we wanted the extra week and at the 1400, especially in fillies’ race, she should be fine.”
Tempted is the $1.50 favourite for the Surround Stakes, from Apocalyptic ($4.50) and Ole Dancer ($8), who are both Group 1 winners at 1600m.
Although the Godolphin filly beat home all bar Ka Ying Rising in The Everest and was third in the Golden Slipper last year, she is yet to win at the highest level, a box Maher feels she is destined to tick.
“She is an emerging horse that just seems to get better, or will get better,” Maher said of the filly who has had 10 starts for five, two seconds and two thirds.
“I don’t think anyone’s too concerned there, but it would be nice if it happens this prep.”
Maher has not committed to a path beyond the Surround Stakes for Tempted with her performance to determine whether she returns to Melbourne for the William Reid Stakes on March 21 or is freshened for a tilt at the T J Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 4.
