Tempted has issued a significant challenge to Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising with a dazzling display to win the Premiere Stakes at Randwick, all but guaranteeing owner Godolphin a slot in the 2026 Everest.

While an official announcement is yet to be made, Tempted is expected to carry the global operation’s colours in the October 17 showpiece, provided she emerges from Saturday’s run in satisfactory condition.

“That will be our expectation. She’ll carry our colours as she did last year, and she carried them so well,” Godolphin’s racing and bloodstock manager, Jason Walsh, said. “It’s pretty clear she’s in even better form, so we look forward to contesting the title again.”

Since finishing second to Ka Ying Rising in last year’s Everest (1200m), Tempted has been in formidable form. She made a classy field appear pedestrian.

Allowed to find her position by jockey Chad Schofield, the $1.60 favourite surged down the outside when asked for an effort, breaking clear to defeat Savvy Hallie ($17) by three lengths. Marhoona ($18) was a nose behind in third, completing an all-mares trifecta.

Jo Gerard-Dubord, Sydney foreman for winning trainer Ciaron Maher, considered the Premiere Stakes win to be Tempted’s greatest performance.

“It probably is her best win, the way she put them away,” Gerard-Dubord stated. “Everything she does, she’s very special. She’ll have to be very special in two weeks, but we’ll be spot-on for that. Ka Ying (Rising), if he’s at his best, he’s very hard to beat. But he’ll have to be at his best.”

Despite the ease of Tempted’s victory in the Premiere Stakes (1200m), Gerard-Dubord suggested the four-year-old mare is capable of further improvement, with her campaign deliberately timed to peak for Everest day.

With this in mind, he is not concerned about her facing Ka Ying Rising again.

“Every horse is beatable on the day,” Gerard-Dubord commented. “She quickens so well, but every time she gets to the front, she waits for them, so if she’s got something to chase for a bit longer, I think there’s a bit more there. It has been her target to have her peaking on Everest day, so in terms of where she’s at, there is a touch more to come.”

Schofield has developed an exceptional rapport with Tempted and, mirroring Gerard-Dubord, is eager for another shot at the world’s best sprinter.

“She has an amazing trait where she grabs the bit around the bend, locks on and is ready to explode,” Schofield said. “You let her go and off she goes. I can’t wait to aim her at Ka Ying Rising.”

This commanding win in the 2026 Premiere Stakes has firmly positioned Tempted as a major contender for The Everest.

Those looking to place a wager on the upcoming feature race can find comprehensive betting markets for the race at various Australian betting sites.