Everything aligned perfectly for Tempted in The Everest, leading Ciaron Maher to refrain from stating his star sprinter could surpass her current form.

While she won’t encounter rivals like Ka Ying Rising, the upcoming challenge remains significant.

The four-year-old mare is set to compete in Melbourne for the first time since February 2025, when she finished seventh as a juvenile in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Her next engagement is at Flemington, tackling the straight course in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m), and Maher is confident another strong performance is on the cards.

“She travelled down really well from Sydney,” Maher commented.

“She worked sharp earlier in the week and she is a horse at the top of her game.

“She’s had a nice gap between runs, the three weeks, and there’s no reason why she should shouldn’t go so well again.”

Tempted had an initial feel of Melbourne’s premier track, galloping on the course proper at Flemington on October 27.

“She had a look down the straight, and she did have a look,” Maher stressed, noting the mare’s observation of her new environment.

Maher reflected on her most recent triumph, acknowledging the different circumstances but seeing a parallel situation for this race.

“Barriers can be a hinderance or a positive and we were keen to use her good draw from barrier one,” Maher explained.

“She gave a good kick and I was confidence she could run her best race.

“That was her peak and there is no reason I’ve seen that that would be hard to maintain.”

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