While racing over 1000 metres isn’t entirely new for Tempted, the accomplished mare will tackle this distance for the first time in some time this weekend.
The Ciaron Maher-trained four-year-old is slated to resume in the $1 million Group 2 Concorde Stakes at Randwick, marking only her second career start at the 1000m trip.
Her sole previous outing at this distance was a winning debut in a two-year-old fillies maiden at Warwick Farm. Prior to that, her only other race shorter than 1200m saw her narrowly defeated by The Playwright in the 1100m Group 3 Widden Stakes at just her second race start.
Eight of her subsequent ten races have been contested over 1200 metres, a distance widely regarded as her forte. However, her two recent trials this campaign, held over 900m and 822m respectively, suggest Maher anticipates she’ll be sharp enough to clinch victory this coming Saturday.
“She’s a sharp filly, very sharp,” Maher commented.
“It certainly wouldn’t surprise me (if she won), without knowing what’s there but, knowing her, she’s pretty sharp.”
Tempted was among 20 nominations for the Concorde Stakes, with last year’s victor Headwall, Beadman, Marhoona, and Mazu featuring prominently among potential rivals.
The Concorde Stakes represents the initial phase of Tempted’s campaign towards the 1200m The Everest. Last year, she finished second to Hong Kong’s Ka Ying Rising in the $20 million event, beating all other competitors.
The daughter of Street Boss has maintained an unbeaten streak since that race, securing victories in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) and the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes and Arrowfield Stakes, both at 1200m. Maher is eager to see her solidify her position as Godolphin’s primary contender for The Everest.
“I suppose there’s a little bit to take place, we haven’t even run the Concorde yet, so there’s a bit to play out in the three-year-olds as some of them could step out,” Maher stated.
“But she’s very good. I’m rapt with her. Her prep so far has gone smoothly and if she lines up in the sort of form she’s in, I’m sure she’ll run very well.”
Maher indicated that Tempted is likely to proceed to the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 3, following this Saturday’s engagement, with The Everest scheduled to take place a fortnight later. With Tempted resuming over the shorter 1000m trip, punters are looking at the Australian betting sites for early value.