Taking their record to six winners in the last seven running’s of the Group 2 ATC The Run To The Rose (1200m), Saturday’s edition of the $300,000 race saw Ciaron Maher train his first stakes winner for Godolphin in the shape of impressive filly Tempted (Street Boss).
One of the star fillies of her 2yo season, winning the Group 2 ATC Reisling Stakes and the Group 3 ATC Percy Sykes Stakes either side of finishing third in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper when trained by James Cummings, Tempted resumed on Saturday off the back of Randwick barrier trial second.
As the lone filly in the field of 12, Tempted started the race favourite looking to become just the second of her sex to win the race after Godolphin’s In Secret (I Am Invincible) in 2022.
After jumping away well, jockey Ethan Brown decided to settle Tempted in sixth position while last start Group 3 San Domenico Stakes winner Raging Force (Cosmic Force) used his customary pace to go forward, where the Peter Snowden trained gelding was looking for five straight wins.
With last start Group 3 San Domenico Stakes third placed Beiwacht (Bivouac) the first to go out after Raging Force as the field headed into the straight, it looked as if the Chirs Waller trained colt would win the race for Godolphin before Tempted made her way out of the pack at the 200m mark.
Reeling in Beiwacht with 100m to run, the filly surged away for an impressive length and a half victory from Beiwacht with last start Listed Rosebud winner Skyhook (written Tycoon) battling away for third.
Heading into the race, Maher was confident that Tempted would acquit herself extremely well.
“What she has been showing us is far better than anything else I had in Sydney, so I was quite confident today. She was very impressive, wasn't she?” said Maher.
“It is a crack field. It's good to have good decisions to make.
“I'll have a chat to the team but I'd say she's got a lot of options. She could go a number of different ways but given how she put them away it would be very attractive.
As for where she will head next with races like the Golden Rose and even The Everest being spoken about, Maher feels confident that she won't be out of place in anything she contests.
“They're a great team. I've only been dealing with them for a short time but they'll make the right call.”
“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.”
Bred and raced by Godolphin, Tempted is one of two stakes winners out of the Exceed And Excel’s Group 2 Magic Night Stakes winner Calliope, joining Group winner Kalios (Medaglia D’Oro).
Calliope, who is a sister to Group 3 winner Zethus and a three-quarter sister to Group 3 Bacchanalia and Listed winner Aquitaine, is a daughter of the stakes placed Elusive Quality mare Melpomene, who is in turn a daughter of Group 1 VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese (Belong To Me).
Calliope has an unraced 2yo colt by Pinatubo named Zambales in the stable of Anthony and Sam Freedman, and after not producing a foal last season after slipping to Brazen Beau, she is due to this season to Anamoe.
Tempted is one of 83 international stakes winner for Street Boss who is standing this season at Darley Northwood Park for a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST).
