By Ray Hickson
If exciting three-year-old Tempted is going to become the first filly to win the TAB Everest then trainer Ciaron Maher says it’s a massive weight advantage that could unlock her unlimited potential at Randwick on Saturday.
Ciaron Maher (Pic: Bradley Photos).
While nine colts and geldings have taken on the Everest, with two winning, there has only been four fillies with Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, who ran fourth as a $41 chance, the first since the inaugural year.
Tempted, $16 with TAB on Thursday, ran third in the Slipper and is coming off a similar placing in the track record breaking Group 1 Golden Rose three weeks ago.
She’s a filly Maher expects to see plenty of in the future at the top level and likes how the Group 1 $20 million TAB Everest (1200m) looks to pan out for her with just the 51kg.
“I really like her prep for this race,’’ Maher said on Sky Sports Radio.
“Barrier one is ideal for her, she can travel on a hot pace, and she’s got that massive weight drop.
“When you get down to those sorts of weights they can do things they haven’t done before.”
Last year’s Everest winning combination of Maher and jockey Craig Williams is back together with the Godolphin filly who made a huge impression at her debut for the stable racing away with the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m).
Her Godolphin compatriot Beiwacht turned the tables on her in the Golden Rose but Maher said that run will toughen her up for the challenge against the older horses.
“She ran a peak in her first-up run,’’ he said.
“She came back in two weeks and they broke the record, she ran a solid race again.
“That three weeks between runs after having that 1400m race she’s freshened up nicely, her work has been really sharp. Similar to what it was leading into the Run To The Rose.
“She’s a progressive filly and I think her prep has gone nice and smooth. This is her target, she has a bright future beyond this prep.”
Maher is just as rapt with Jimmysstar’s build up to the TAB Everest in every facet except coming up with gate 11 at the barrier draw.
He’d planned to tackle the race third-up and he showed he is on target as he ran Briasa to just over half a length in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago.
“I would have preferred a little better but in terms of preparation I was hoping middle of the range around five, six, seven,’’ he said.
“It is what it is but the horse I think is ready to peak, his two runs have been super and he’s freshened up nice.”
The trainer is keeping an open mind about how Ethan Brown and Jimmysstar, $11 with TAB on Thursday, might go about trying to offset the barrier draw and the knowledge that the Everest will likely be a fast run race is heartening.
“The main thing I took from last start was we gave him a squeeze out of the gates in the trial leading up to that race and he actually jumped on terms,” he said.
“Browny then elected to go back but that was the main positive I took out of that race.
“There’ll be plenty of pressure up front you’d imagine, he’ll run his usual time when he runs home but he’ll need to be in striking distance.”
Tempted runs third in the Golden Rose
Ciaron Maher on Wyclif (race 2): “He ran huge in this race last year, running second, and he’s had basically an identical preparation so I think he’s over the odds.”
On Pride Of Jenni (race 9): “She’s on, she’s ready to run a big race. She was huge in the King Charles last year, I think she’s in a very similar spot. I’m rapt with how she’s gone, it’s great to have her back.”
On Sergeant Major (race 10): “This is a race we’ve had earmarked for a while, I think he’s close to being right. I gave him a second run at the 12(00) to be spot on for his, he has a good record at the 14(00) and he’s a horse that’s improving every prep.”
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s TAB Everest meeting at Randwick