Godolphin filly Tempted will put her credentials on the line for a spot in The Everest when she lines up in the Golden Rose at Rosehill.
With the Godolphin slot still up for grabs in the Group 1 The Everest at Randwick on October 18, the racing and breeding giant is holding off on announcing who will run in their slot.
But success in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday will do Tempted’s chances of gaining a start in the $20 million race no harm as it will for Beiwacht who runs in the Royal Blue colours for Chris Waller.
Tempted has drawn barrier eight in the nine-horse field on Saturday and will again be ridden by Ethan Brown who rode the filly to victory at her first start for Ciaron Maher in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on September 13, while Beiwacht has gate two.
Maher prepares Tempted at his Bong Bong property and said the filly had a gallop there on Monday in preparation for Saturday’s Group 1 assignment.
He said rather than press on towards the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11, Tempted was more likely to be freshened for The Everest or Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1.
“She was up there with the best of them as a two-year-old and she’s come back in great order as a three-year-old,” Maher said.
“Godolphin do have their slot and there have been discussions, but it will be one step at a time,” Maher said.
“We’ll head to Saturday and see how we line up.”
Maher said his Bong Bong stable suits Tempted as she can be in a paddock during the day.
“She’s not over big but has a lot of depth to her,” Maher said.
“She’s not a heavy horse and didn’t tighten up a lot after her run in the Run To The Rose, Bong Bong suits her.
“She can go in the paddock, and she’s got a bit of chestnut filly in her. She relaxes well (there), she eats well, and it suits those types of horses that can be a bit highly strung.”
Maher is shooting for his first win in the Golden Rose while Godolphin is shooting for their seventh win since the race was granted Group 1 status in 2009.
Godolphin won the race last year with Broadsiding who then headed to the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate while Bivouac (2019) was brought back to sprinting to finish sixth in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and then to finish second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
