The world’s best sprinter was finally beaten, and it was Australian star Tempted who delivered the knockout blow in a thrilling 10th edition and mouth-watering rematch in The Everest 2026 at Randwick on Saturday.

Having finished runner-up to Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising in last year’s running, the brilliant mare turned the tables emphatically in the $20 million sprint, producing a career-best performance to defeat the defending champion by a half-neck and hand powerhouse trainer Ciaron Maher one of the biggest victories of his illustrious career.

WOW! ? Last year's runner-up is this year's TAB Everest winner!
Tempted holds off the world's best racehorse to claim victory! ??@SchofieldChad @cmaherracing @godolphin @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/h4n2a94uaE

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 17, 2026

Ridden with confidence by Chad Schofield, Tempted ($6.50) made full use of barrier one and an aggressive race strategy, taking up a prominent position before kicking strongly in the straight and proving too courageous to be run down late by the heavily backed $1.35 favourite. Joliestar finished a further neck away in third after an eye-catching performance from the back of the field.

The victory was the tenth from just 15 starts for the daughter of Street Boss and pushed her earnings beyond an incredible $14 million, while cementing her place among the elite sprinters of the modern era.

Revenge Served in The Richest Race on Turf

Twelve months after chasing home Ka Ying Rising in the world’s richest race on turf, Tempted returned a stronger, more seasoned mare and arrived at Randwick unbeaten since that defeat.

Maher always believed the signs were there for a peak performance on the biggest stage.

“I always had an air of confidence she would run her best race today,” he told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“You could see the way she was building through it. Chad knew what he had under him and I felt barrier one was ideal.

“She had to be at her absolute best and she was.”

The trainer could hardly contain his excitement after watching his mare repel the challenge of the world’s highest-rated sprinter.

“This mare was there to be beaten but she did it!” Maher said.

“She went forward, made her own luck, and God, this is amazing.

“Earlier today, we were talking that we don’t really know how good she is.”

Saturday’s victory completed a remarkable turnaround from last year.

“She hasn’t been beaten since and rectified it this year,” Maher said.

“It is really great, on an amazing day, I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Godolphin Patience Rewarded

Maher was quick to credit Godolphin for resisting the temptation to over-race the mare last season and allowing her to develop into the powerhouse she has become.

“I’m thrilled for Godolphin,” he said.

“A lot of horses don’t reach their full potential but Godolphin has been very patient with Tempted.

“We could have taken her to Melbourne last spring but we didn’t.

“We put her away for autumn and gave her a light autumn with a view of reaching her full potential.

“She is something special.”

The victory added another major chapter to what has already been a sensational campaign that included victories in the Concorde and Premiere Stakes.

Bigger Targets Still to Come?

Perhaps most frightening for her rivals was Maher’s belief that the four-year-old may still have improvement left to come.

“Wow! Who knows what we could do with her but she has got better every preparation and I don’t think she is done yet,” he said.

The trainer even suggested international targets could eventually come into play, though he acknowledged the mare is still maturing mentally.

“She probably could but she is still a little bit quirky.

“You could see that going out on the track, she was a bit fruity.

“But she is improving all the time.”

Schofield’s Perfect Tactical Ride

Much of the victory was built around Schofield’s bold race tactics.

Rather than riding Tempted conservatively and relying on her finishing burst, the jockey allowed her to race prominently from the inside draw and effectively dictated the race to suit his mount.

With Ka Ying Rising trapped wide from barrier 11, Schofield’s early positioning proved decisive.

“First time I’ve really ridden her and asked her from the start,” Schofield said.

“I normally just ride her to relax and trust her to be far too good late.

“But it was a different race today.

“We had the world’s best sprinter, the world’s best horse. I had eyes for him.”

Schofield believed the move forced rival jockey Zac Purton into an unfavourable position.

“I knew he wasn’t up there and I held my spot and kept him deep and I’m pretty sure that made Zac have to come back,” he said.

“From there, I had the perfect trip.

“I came off from behind the two leaders, and I hit the front very early, a long way out.

“But she’s such a good horse, she’s so brave and so game.”

The positive ride was not necessarily planned, but Schofield followed Maher’s instructions to let the mare find her own rhythm.

“Ciaron just said, let her be. If she wants to be there, let her be there,” the hoop added.

“He felt in this race last year she was a pair further back than she needed to be.

“I jumped, I gave her a squeeze, and like always, she was there for me and she delivered.”

Schofield believes the mare has gone to another level this spring.

“She’s getting better, that’s all I’ll say,” he said.

“I rode her as a three-year-old and she came back so much stronger.

“She was amazing first-up, she was even better second-up.

“I reckon she went to a new level there today.”

Brave Defeat for Ka Ying Rising

While the result ended Ka Ying Rising’s grip on The Everest, trainer David Hayes was full of praise for the champion gelding’s effort after a torrid run.

The Hong Kong star was forced to race wide throughout after drawing barrier 11 and still charged to the line late, missing by only a half-neck.

“We didn’t expect him to be there, but it was the barrier,” Hayes said.

“Sometimes eleven can be a bonus, but he got caught wide.

“He settled a bit further back than we thought he would.”

Hayes took solace from the way the champion attacked the line.

“If we have to take a positive out of it, he was in front one stride after the post,” he said.

“So very brave.

“The first and third horse cut the corner and really had dream runs, and we had a horror run being six-wide, no cover.”

The trainer was adamant the track conditions played no role in the defeat.

“The ground was absolutely perfect,” Hayes admitted.

“It was the barrier, and we actually thought the barrier would be a bonus, but it went the wrong way for us.”

With the Hong Kong International Races now looming, Hayes remains optimistic.

“He’ll be there on Longines day and then Champions Day, and this season is only just starting, so hopefully we might come back next year,” he confirmed.

A New Sprint Queen Emerges

The Everest has produced many memorable moments since its inception, but few have been as significant as Tempted’s victory over the seemingly unbeatable Ka Ying Rising.

The result not only handed Maher and Godolphin one of the biggest victories of their careers but also confirmed that Australian sprinting has unearthed a genuine superstar. Having now won ten races from 15 starts and conquered the world’s best sprinter on the sport’s grandest sprint stage, Tempted has elevated herself from elite mare to racing phenomenon.

And if Maher is right, she may not have reached her peak just yet.