Brilliant filly Tempted has set the scene for an Everest rematch with Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising after a scintillating victory in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at Randwick in class record time.
The three-year-old on Saturday clocked 1:08.00 seconds for the 1200m, bettering the previous class record of 1:08.14 set by Cosmic Force in 2019, and within half a second of the track record held by Yes Yes Yes.
Ciaron Maher, who took over the conditioning of Tempted from James Cummings when owners Godolphin moved to a public training model at the start of the season, said the filly just kept raising the bar.
“It was pretty thrilling to watch. She’s just got a brilliant turn of foot, doesn’t she?” Maher said.
“She came into our stable in super order, and she just keeps going to another level each time she runs as she furnishes and develops.
“Her run in the Everest (1200m) last year was huge, her prep to break (through for) a Group One. I’m just so thrilled to be able to train for Godolphin, and thrilled for my team.”
Tempted defeated all bar Ka Ying Rising in The Everest (1200m) last spring and Maher wasn’t shying away from another clash with the champion sprinter.
While discussions with Godolphin’s Andy Makiv and Jason Walsh will determine their course of action, Maher conceded that working back from the Everest to plan her program made sense.
“Most likely. She hasn’t had a taxing prep this time around, but I’ll sit down with Andy and Jason and the Godolphin team and they’re good discussions to have,” he said.
“She is going to be competitive in whatever you want to race her in.
“She keeps getting better each prep. Her manners keep improving each time she goes to the races. She’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Tempted ($1.60 fav) unleashed a dazzling turn of foot at the 200m to overhaul leader Devil Night ($14) by 1-1/4 lengths with Grafterburners ($8) another three-quarters of a length away.
Maher described Chad Schofield’s effort as a “cool, calm, collected ride” but the jockey said Tempted made his job easy.
“She can be wherever you want her to be,” Schofield said.
“She can be forward, back, relax and then access that turn of foot. It’s really breathtaking and feels amazing to be on top of, and good to get the job done.”
Classique Legend won the Arrowfield in 2019 and returned the following spring to claim the Everest.
