Prominent sprint filly Tempted has a barrier trial lined up this week to ensure she stays primed for her Sydney autumn carnival mission.
The three-year-old filly is entered in a 1000m trial at Hawkesbury come Monday or 1030m at Rosehill Tuesday, trainer Ciaron Maher favouring the latter pending track reports.
Chad Schofield remains her booked rider for whichever she contests.
“I’ll see what the tracks are like, but she will probably go to Rosehill,” Maher said.
Tempted was second to top-rated Ka Ying Rising in The Everest (1200m) during last spring’s campaign, then broke through for Group 1 glory in a tenacious victory in Randwick’s Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28.
Since that win, she’s been given time to stay fresh, and a trip to Maher’s Bong Bong yard recently confirmed her superb condition.
“I was down at Bong Bong during the week. I pulled her out of the paddock, and I thought, she’s going to jump out of the paddock, so I swiftly put her back away,” he said.
“She’s in great order.”
Her probable next outing is the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) over Randwick on April 11, yet trainer Maher keeps the door ajar for the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) the week before against older rivals.
“Maybe an Arrowfield or TJ. I will see what the other horses are doing,” he said.
Tempted is even money to win the Arrowfield, while offered at $8 in early TJ Smith fields.
Also trialling at Rosehill Tuesday is 2022 Everest champion Giga Kick, who ran a promising fourth behind Generosity in the Challenge Stakes (1000m) for Clayton Douglas.
He targets a rematch in the TJ Smith Stakes after running second to I Wish I Win in the race three years ago.
Compare betting sites for the top TJ Smith Stakes odds.