Star mare Tempted will be expected to make a statement ahead of The Everest when she contests Saturday’s Group 2 $1 million Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord believes a dominant performance would provide the ideal platform for Tempted’s anticipated rematch with Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising.
Tempted finished runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in last year’s Everest as a three-year-old and the Maher stable is keen to see evidence she can again pose a serious challenge to the champion sprinter.
“If you want to beat Ka Ying Rising in two weeks she needs to win and she needs to be dominant,’’ Gerard-Dubord said.
“We don’t need to win but it would be disappointing if she didn’t win.
“Confidence is a big thing with mares so the more you can win the more confidence they gain and going into a fight she will have in two weeks you want her at her top and full of confidence.”
Godolphin is expected to confirm Tempted for its Everest slot following the Premiere Stakes, with the mare currently an $8 second favourite for the $20 million feature.
Tempted was a dominant first-up winner of the Concorde Stakes a month ago and has not been beaten since finishing second in last year’s Everest.
She has since been given an intentionally easy trial and any rain at Randwick would be welcomed by the stable.
“She’s exactly where we want her,’’ he said.
“Everything has gone perfectly from day one. We want her peaking for Everest Day and we are right on track for that.
“Now she’s going up to 1200m, which is probably her best trip, with a run under her belt.
“She’s come on from the run but the exciting part last start was when once she went past them, she quickened very impressively, it was pretty much job done and there was quite a bit left late.”
Maher has previously used the Concorde-Premiere preparation into The Everest with Bella Nipotina, who won the race in 2024, and Jimmysstar, who finished third last year.
Tempted was a $1.55 favourite with TAB on Friday, with Chad Schofield to ride from barrier 11.
Gerard-Dubord believes the wide draw could ultimately work in the mare’s favour by allowing Schofield to keep her in clear running.
“You can ride her anywhere in a race and she will switch off,’’ he said.
“So it will give her a chance to get out and quicken whenever she wants, she could be in the three wide line and not stuck behind horses and dictated to. It could turn out to be a positive gate.
“She’ll have a good hitout and she’ll be spot on. She’s 100 per cent this week and she’ll be 110 per cent in two weeks.”
Gerard-Dubord is also looking forward to Navy Pilot’s second-up appearance in the TAB One Pool Handicap (1200m) at Randwick.
The four-year-old finished third behind Theblade at Rosehill three weeks ago in a race dominated by those racing on speed, with softer ground on Saturday not expected to disadvantage him.
“He was very good first-up and ran very good sectionals,’’ he said.
“He’s an unassuming kind of horse, he’s straightforward and a very neat looking horse and always looks well and tries very hard.
“The track was very on speed and the first two home were the first two in the run and he was the only horse to make ground so I thought he did a very good job.”
