A Group Two podium finish rarely counts as a letdown, but the camp behind Tupakara left the Tea Rose Stakes wanting more.

The three-year-old started a clear favourite after flashing home for second to Apocalyptic first-up, yet when ridden closer to the tempo last time out she boxed on for third behind the same filly, beaten two lengths.

Co-trainer Annabel Archibald initially felt the handier map might not have suited, but on review she wasn’t convinced that explained the defeat.

“My initial thought was that but the winner was three-wide outside us covering ground and they went a second slower than standard to the corner,” Archibald said.

“It’s all well and good saying, ‘ride her quieter’ but when it’s a slow tempo, it’s probably more so just a flat second-up run.

“But we won’t be bustling her out of the gates. We will just ride her where she’s happy.”

Tupakara now renews hostilities with Apocalyptic in the finale of the Princess Series, Saturday’s Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

She must overcome the outside gate (barrier 11), but while her last-start conqueror stretches to a mile for the first time, Tupakara already owns course-and-distance experience after finishing third in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a two-year-old.

Archibald concedes the filly needs to elevate, with the rise to the mile hoped to be the catalyst.

“They’ve all got a bit of improving to do to catch the favourite but she worked really well (on Tuesday) morning and she’s third-up,” Archibald said.

“She went very close in the Champagne as a two-year-old so we know the mile here suits and she is rock-hard fit.”

“The favourite looks very smart but they’re three-year-old fillies. They are all fairly lightly raced and anything can happen.”

Stablemate Next Jen has been withdrawn from the Flight in favour of the Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m), where she draws better and adds blinkers for the first time.

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