Having always shown serious ability, Ciaron Maher’s 3yo Street Boss filly Tempted secured her first elite level victory, winning the $750,000 G1 ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Third in the G1 Golden Slipper behind Marhoona, who she had beaten the start prior, the Godolphin bred and raced Tempted has been in the care of Ciaron Maher since the start of her 3yo campaign where she has continued to blossom.
Defeating the boys in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) first up, Tempted was sent out the short-priced favourite and with G1 winners Apocalyptic and Ole Dancer the only other two runners double figure odds, the race appeared Tempted’s for the taking.
With last start G2 Light Fingers Stakes winner Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) going forward to take up the running to control the race like she did last start, Chad Schofield allowed Tempted to drift back into a mid-field position but was in clear running.
With Thousand Guineas winner Ole Dancer going forward to settle in second, the pair cornered into the home straight, but it was clear the Victorian visitor didn’t have the motor that the leader had.
With Schofield allowing Tempted to amble up to Savvy Hallie, the pair broke away from Ole Dancer and while it was heads up, heads down racing, Tempted knew where the line was and stuck her head out to secure her first G1 victory.
Gallant in defeat, Savvy Hallie has been in outstanding form this time and it appears that her time will come.
Holding on for third was Ole Dancer, while Apocalyptic, who doesn’t appear to be the same horse we saw last campaign, finished in fourth, just under five lengths from Tempted.
Trainer Ciaron Maher knows what a quality filly she is but was glad to see her secure her first G1 victory.
“Quality, you know, she's got so much of it,” enthused Maher. “I'm just thrilled to be able to train for Godolphin, her record speaks for itself, so to be able to tick off a Group One for her is very, very special.”
“I can't thank my team enough, she spends most of her time down at Bong Bong. She likes the relaxing surrounds, Jo (Gerard-Dubord, assistant trainer) and the team have done a super job with her.
“Chad (Schofield), he knew what he had underneath him. I was actually thinking, 'come on, you can get a little bit more desperate' halfway down the straight. But, 1400m is probably right at the top of her distance range, as we've seen, she's ran second and now won at Group One level.
“You'd think she's more dynamic at six (furlongs). Group Ones are everything for these fillies, especially for a team like Godolphin and their Broodmare band. I'm absolutely thrilled."
Asked where she stood in terms of the horses Maher has trained.
“Well, if you look at her form and Bella's (Nipotina) form at the same time, you'd say she's a lot better. But Bella's longevity, strength, and toughness, she's definitely right up there.”
“She (Tempted) runs second to the best sprinter in the world as a three-year-old, so you think with furnishing, she's only going to get better.
“Andy Makiv and Jason Walsh and the whole Godolphin team, they manage their horses so well. They're a pleasure to train for, and I'm just thrilled."
As for where she may head next, originally the plan was the TJ Smith Stakes, but that could change.
“Well, you know, she's got options now. Originally, I thought that would be the plan, but I'll sit down with the team and ask them and we'll work it through and they've managed it well so far.”
Schofield knew the quality of filly he was riding, so when she was a little further back than expected, he didn’t panic.
“I probably didn't expect to be in that position, but there was a lot more pressure early, which I had a feeling might happen,” said Schofield. “I didn't want to engage early and sort of switch her on and get her over-traveling so I very much just left her alone and rode her to get the trip.”
“I came through the top of the rise full of horse, really smooth through her gears, and I had to sort of really dig into her legs. She had to dig deeper. She's a very good horse."
“We kept finding, but we had to because that second filly was tremendously brave. Just the way I canted up to her, but then Savvy Hallie, she found a lot more. Very good run by two good fillies, but I think we were the better one on the day.”
With six wins six wins and four placed efforts from 11 starts with earnings of $5,161,400, Tempted is the best of three winners from four to the races out of the G2-winning Exceed And Excel mare Calliope.
Calliope, who is a sister to G3 winner Zethus and a three-quarter sister to G3 Bacchanalia and Listed winner Aquitaine, is also the dam of the dual G2 winner Kallos.
From the family of G1 VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese, Calliope’s 2yo Pinatubo colt Zambales was an impressive fast closing fourth last time out in the G1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), beaten just over a length.
After slipping to Brazen Beau, Calliope foaled a filly to Anamoe in September, before going back to the Champion son of Street Boss once again.
Becoming the 13th G1 winner for Street Boss, it was the second elite level winner in the space of a week for the Darley stallion after the Futurity Stakes victory last Saturday of Pericles.
Tempted is one of 169 stakes performers for Street Boss and will be represented by six lots at the Inglis Premier yearling sale which commences tomorrow, Sunday March 1.
