Chances are you're about to lose.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Ciaron Maher‘s brilliant daughter of Street Boss, Tempted, made the perfect return to racing at Randwick on Saturday with a second The Everest bid now calling following her first-up success in the 2026 Concorde Stakes results on Chelmsford Stakes Day.
Debuting as a four-year-old mare, last year’s The Everest runner-up is set for another encounter with Hong Kong Hero Ka Ying Rising in the world’s richest turf race on October 17, and she took the first step towards the highly anticipated rematch with a victory for the punters in the Group 2 $1 million Concorde Stakes (1000m).
Retaining her flawless first-up record, Tempted made it four wins on the trot after a stellar autumn that saw her win the Group 3 Eskimo Prince, Group 1 Surround Stakes and Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
Proving she could be just as sharp as the best short-course horses around over the 1000m, she started at a short quote of $1.95 and didn’t disappoint with jockey Chad Schofield reuniting with the Godolphin-raced beauty to defeat last year’s Concorde Stakes winner Headwall by just under a half-length with the Peter Snowden-trained Beadman huge in his spring campaign kickoff to round at the trifecta as a 30/1 shot having done it tough from a wide gate.
Schofield had the dazzling mare settled off the speed but full of running, getting to the outside with a clear passage at the 300 before flashing past her rivals to hit the lead and hold off the gallant runner-up in another brilliant Randwick performance by the now $6.4 million earner.
“Chad gave her a pretty good ride,” Maher told the media after the race.
“I said to him when he got on, ‘she’ll give you a pretty good feel up the rise today’.
“She actually got there a bit soon. She sprinted that quick the race was over and she was half idling off.
He knows what he’s got underneath him. When he rode her in the Surround (Stakes), I was like, ‘come on, come on’. But he knew what he had.
“That was probably right at the top of her range but back to the 1000 today, she was simply electric.”
Last Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, Tempted came off a Golden Rose third to run a length back second in the $20 million The Everest as a filly.
More mature now and having come back even better, it looks all systems go for her to secure a slot in the 12-horse showdown and she’s the $7 second favourite in futures The Everest 2026 betting at Ladbrokes.com.au behind the $1.50 defending champion.
“She’s even better than she was,” Maher confirmed.
“She has furnished a bit and she just keeps improving.
“The Godolphin team manage her very well and we’re thrilled to be able to train a horse like that.
“She had shown us at home that she had come back in equally as good, if not better, condition. All her work has been super.
“I’ve seen the big Ka Ying (Rising). He’s getting better as well, so we need to, but thrilled and looking forward to what lies ahead.”
The Everest 2026 Odds
| 1. Ka Ying Rising | ||
| 2. Tempted | ||
| 3. Beiwacht | ||
| 4. Jimmysstar | ||
| 5. Joliestar |
As for Tempted’s next-up run, Maher confirmed plans to head second-up in the Group 2 $1 million Premiere Stakes (1200m) back at Randwick on October 3 before running third-up in The Everest as she did last year.
“The Premiere; it’s the path we have used the last three years successfully, so she will be the same, I think. it will suit her,” he said.
Schofield was also quick to credit Tempted in her excellent performance, mirroring Maher’s excitement about the spring campaign ahead.
“Very impressive. She jumped well. She sort of found that tempo a bit too quick, she normally travels so well in her races, but she couldn’t quite do that at that speed,” he said.
“She started to get comfortable from about the 700m.
“I was very happy to see Headwall go in, because I wasn’t letting him out. When I let her go, it was just bang.
“So sharp and she felt terrific.
“Mentally yes (she feels better) and even physically. Her turn of foot, and she has always had an amazing turn of foot, but that one there today was pretty good to feel.
“Pre-race today she’s walking behind the gates with her head on the floor, calm, and she’s first-up so there is more to come.”
