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By Ray Hickson

TAB Everest runner-up Tempted is headed back to Ciaron Maher’s stable with the Surround Stakes circled as her first big chance to snare a Group 1 in the new year.

The Godolphin filly was best of the chasers behind champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the Everest and behind her was stablemate Jimmysstar who has since won both the Russell Balding Stakes and the Group 1 Orr Stakes.

Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord is looking forward to seeing her arrive on Monday having spent the bulk of her spell at Godolphin.

Johann Gerard-Dubord with Tempted (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“After the Everest we kept her for an easy week at Bong Bong then she had three weeks there,’’ he said.

“They’ve got a good system, they’ve been doing it for a long time, and the horses always come back looking very well.

“Even though she has a good record she’s not a Group 1 winner yet and we felt the Surround would be the best target for her.

“When she’s at her best I think she’s as good as any sprinter in Australia.”

The Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) is run at Randwick on February 28 and Tempted will have one lead up run, likely the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) three weeks earlier.

There is an option to run her against the fillies, where she’d be more favourably weighted, but the Maher stable would prefer to give her a longer gap between runs.

When she finished third in the Golden Rose at 1400m it was on a two week back up from her brilliant win in the Run To The Rose.

“If we go to the Light Fingers a week after she’s better placed against the fillies at set weights but we feel a three week gap in between first and second-up is better,’’ Gerard-Dubord said.

“Even though she ran well in the Golden Rose we feel she’s better with that extra week.

“But if we don’t like the look of the Eskimo Prince at least she will be ready and we can wait for the following week.”

Gerard-Dubord said it’s hoped the decision not to press on to the Coolmore Stud Stakes after her Everest placing will pay off in 2026.

Tempted came through the Everest in excellent style but he said while the filly is a real professional she still has some furnishing to do.

“Even though she had the light weight it’s never easy for a filly, you need to be tough as well as have plenty of ability,’’ he said.

“I don’t think she could have done much more.

“If he went an extra race she wouldn’t have time to have much of a break. We felt it was the right time to stop."

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