Maher eyes 1000m kick-off for mare Tempted

While 1000-metre races are not uncharted territory for Tempted, the talented mare is set to contest this distance for the first time in a significant period this weekend.

The Ciaron Maher-trained four-year-old is scheduled to make her return in the $1 million Group 2 Concorde Stakes at Randwick, which will mark only her second official start over the 1000m journey.

Her sole previous attempt at this sprint distance resulted in a debut victory in a two-year-old fillies maiden at Warwick Farm. Before that, her only other race held at less than 1200m was a narrow second place behind The Playwright in the 1100m Group 3 Widden Stakes during her second career start.

Eight of her subsequent ten races have been contested over 1200 metres, a distance widely considered her optimal range. However, her two recent trials this preparation, run over 900m and 822m, have led Maher to believe she will be sufficiently sharp to claim victory this weekend.

"She's a sharp filly, very sharp," Maher remarked.

"It certainly wouldn't surprise me (if she won), without knowing what's there but, knowing her, she's pretty sharp."

Tempted was one of 20 horses entered for the Concorde Stakes, with the defending champion Headwall, along with Beadman, Marhoona, and Mazu, topping the list of potential rivals.

The Concorde Stakes serves as the initial step on Tempted's path towards the 1200m The Everest. Last year, she finished second, beaten only by the Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising, in the $20 million feature.

Since that performance, the daughter of Street Boss has been undefeated, achieving wins in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) and the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes and Arrowfield Stakes, both at 1200m. Maher is keen for her to confirm her status as Godolphin's primary candidate 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 explained.

"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 mentioned that Tempted is expected to contest the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 3, following her run in the Concorde Stakes, with The Everest to be held two weeks later. Considering Tempted's sharp trials, many are checking the racing betting markets for the Concorde Stakes.