Second to world champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the $20million The Everest last spring, quality filly Tempted again showed her liking for the Randwick 1200m when scoring a dazzling win in the $1million Group II ATC Arrowfield Sprint on Saturday.
The best two year-old filly last season, Tempted won the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes on this card last year and in the 12 months since has continued to progress in leaps and bounds.
She joined the Ciaron Maher stable at the start of the season when the Godolphin horses dispersed to a raft of new trainers and it’s been onwards and upwards.
A last start winner of the Group I ATC Surround Stakes, Tempted was given a beautiful ride by Chad Schofield from a tricky draw and was able to surge past last year’s Blue Diamond winning colt Devil Night to win by a length and a half running away.
“She came into our stable in super order (from James Cummings) and she just keeps going to another level each time she runs. She furnishes and develops,” said Ciaron Maher.
“Her run in an Everest last year was huge (2nd) and then she won the Group 1 (Surround), I’m just so thrilled to be able to train for Godolphin. She presented today perfect. This was her target race.”
Chad Schofield has had three race rides on Tempted this year and has won them all.
“She just makes it easy for herself, she’s just bombproof to ride. Really is a dream. Her tactical versatility is probably what wins or helps her a lot,” he said.
“She can be wherever you want her to be. She can be forward, back, relax and then access that turn of foot. It’s really breathtaking and feels amazing to be on top of and good to get the job done.”
With seven wins and four placings from 12 starts with earnings of $5.7million, Tempted is a half-brother to Group II winner Kallos and this season’s stakes-placed 2YO Zambales and is the best of three winners from four to race from G2-winning Exceed And Excel mare Calliope.
A grand-daughter of Group I VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese, Calliope is a sister to G3 winner Zethus and a three-quarter sister-in-blood to G3 Bacchanalia and Listed winner Aquitaine.
After slipping to Brazen Beau, Calliope foaled a filly to Anamoe in September, before going back to the champion son of Street Boss once again.
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