A dazzling display from Tempted in the Run To The Rose has stamped her as one of the most exciting fillies of her generation, with both the Golden Rose and The Everest now firmly in her sights.
Facing a line-up stacked with Golden Slipper stars, the Ciaron Maher-trained filly exploded late to secure a commanding 1-1/2 length victory. “What she has been showing us is far better than anything else I had in Sydney so I was quite confident today,” Maher said. “She was very impressive, wasn’t she? It is a crack field. It’s good to have good decisions to make.”
Her triumph places her alongside In Secret, who in 2022 became the first filly to win the race before going on to the Coolmore Stud Stakes. Maher said Tempted may go one better by earning a berth in The Everest. “It probably wouldn’t be beyond her. Three-year-olds have a pretty good record. The fillies haven’t done as well as the colts but she might be one out of the box.”
Sent off as the $3.90 favourite, Tempted was held up in midfield before unleashing a blistering sprint to overpower Beiwacht ($7.50), while Skyhook ($5.50) rattled home into third. Wodeton and longshot State Visit were both solid through the line and will continue on the Golden Rose path.
Beiwacht’s rider Adam Hyeronimus admitted he was shocked by the manner in which Tempted went past him. “I wasn’t expecting a horse to go past us that quick at the furlong. She has run really well the filly. I do think he’s going to maybe be a risk going to the Golden Rose over seven furlongs. That will all depend on the race shape.”