Tempted's record-breaking Arrowfield win has Maher dreaming of Everest
Impressive filly Tempted has opened the door for a showdown in The Everest with Hong Kong ace Ka Ying Rising after dominating the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at Randwick and shattering the class record.
On Saturday, the three-year-old covered the 1200m in 1:08.00, eclipsing the old class standard of 1:08.14 from Cosmic Force in 2019, coming within half a second of Yes Yes Yes's track record.
Trainer Ciaron Maher, handed the reins of Tempted by James Cummings when Godolphin opted for public training at the start of the campaign, observed the filly's ongoing improvement.
"It was pretty thrilling to watch. She's just got a brilliant turn of foot, doesn't she?" Maher said.
"She came into our stable in super order, and she just keeps going to another level each time she runs as she furnishes and develops.
"Her run in the Everest (1200m) last year was huge, her prep to break (through for) a Group One. I'm just so thrilled to be able to train for Godolphin, and thrilled for my team."
In last spring's The Everest (1200m), Tempted finished second to Ka Ying Rising, and Maher is keen on another encounter with the elite sprinter.
Plans will be hashed out with Godolphin's Andy Makiv and Jason Walsh, but Maher agreed that building towards the Everest fits her path perfectly.
"Most likely. She hasn't had a taxing prep this time around, but I'll sit down with Andy and Jason and the Godolphin team and they're good discussions to have," he said.
"She is going to be competitive in whatever you want to race her in.
"She keeps getting better each prep. Her manners keep improving each time she goes to the races. She's going to be a lot of fun."
The $1.60 market elect Tempted surged clear from the 200m mark to beat pacesetter Devil Night ($14) by 1-1/4 lengths, ahead of Grafterburners ($8) by three-quarters more.
Maher praised Chad Schofield's handling as a "cool, calm, collected ride", but the rider insisted Tempted did the heavy lifting.
"She can be wherever you want her to be," Schofield said.
"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."
In 2019, Classique Legend captured the Arrowfield and then The Everest the following spring.
Head to the online bookmakers to find the keenest markets for The Everest.
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