Tempted suffered defeat as the favourite during a 1400-metre Group 1 race in her second start last preparation, yet trainer Ciaron Maher remains assured that such an outcome won’t recur on this occasion.

The Street Boss filly heads to this Saturday’s $750,000 Surround Stakes at Randwick, three weeks following her dominant victory over competitors in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).

Tempted delivered a comparable dominant success in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) on debut in spring, a fortnight prior to finishing third behind colts Beiwacht and Wodeton in the Golden Rose, and Maher expresses greater satisfaction with her current 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 holds the $1.50 favouritism for the Surround Stakes ahead of Apocalyptic ($4.50) and Ole Dancer ($8), both of whom have secured Group 1 triumphs over 1600m.

Even though the Godolphin filly outran everyone except Ka Ying Rising in The Everest and placed third in last year’s Golden Slipper, she has yet to claim victory at the elite level, something Maher believes is inevitable for her.

“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 remains undecided on Tempted’s schedule after the Surround Stakes, allowing her showing to guide if she travels to Melbourne for the William Reid Stakes on March 21 or takes a break ahead of the T J Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 4.

Explore the Australian betting sites for top racing betting markets on the Surround Stakes.