Tempted blossoms on Run To The Rose eve

Trainer Ciaron Maher is excited about Tempted’s preparation for Saturday’s G2 Run To The Rose over 1,200m at Rosehill Gardens.

Maher said the Godolphin filly had done everything right since transferring to his spacious Moss Vale stable.
 

Tempted improved in leaps and bounds during the autumn and went to the paddock a brilliant winner of the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes 1,200m at her last start at Randwick on 12 April.

That effort followed an unlucky third in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes where the Street Boss (US) youngster was held up for a run on the inside and only beaten just over half a length by two-year-old of the year Marhoona.

“I’m rapt with the way she has settled in, she’s really likes the country environment,” Maher said.
“She certainly looks like all signs are good.”

Tempted had smashed the clock, running 1 minute 8.49 seconds for 1,200m in winning the G2 Reisling Slipper at Randwick prior to the Slipper, giving Marhoona a big head start and a decisive beating.

While the Run To The Rose has attracted a quality field of three-year-olds, including the Chris Waller-trained Godolphin colt Beiwacht, Tempted is drawn nicely in barrier seven and Maher has enticed Melbourne jockey Ethan Brown to head north for the ride.

“She’s prepped up really well, she trialled nicely and will take some improvement out of Saturday’s run,” Maher said.
“But she’s in a really, really good spot.”

Waller was pleased with Beiwacht’s first-up third in the G3 San Domenico Stakes a fortnight ago after jumping from the outside barrier and travelling three-wide outside the lead.
“He was awesome first-up, didn’t get a lot of luck over the 1,100m distance,” he said.

“Adam Hyeronimus retains the ride and he (Beiwacht) gets his chance to show on Saturday whether he’s going to settle well enough to get the Golden Rose distance 1,400m or whether he’s an out and out sprinter.

“He’s already a G2 winner (Silver Slipper) and it looks like he’s come back well.
“It’s a lovely race for him.”

Barbarossa lines up in the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality for three-year-olds at Rosehill, while Corniche is engaged in the G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality sprint down the straight 1,200m course at Flemington.

After a good maiden win at Kembla on 7 August, Barbarossa disappointed when only sixth at Warwick Farm in Benchmark 64 grade over 1,200m 27 days later.

The Too Darn Hot colt does drop 7kg at the handicaps on that run and should appreciate the rise to 1,400m under the expert guidance of G1-winning jockey Tim Clark.

“He’s a very impressive individual,” Maher said of Barbarossa.
“I think we just have to stretch him out (distance).

“He was beaten for a turn of foot (at Warwick Farm) and then was OK through the line.
“The gap between runs probably wasn’t ideal for him, he had a couple of little issues.

“But I think with more racing over more trip, he’ll find his niche.”

Corniche (Jamie Melham) will also be aiming to atone after failing first-up at Randwick on 23 August after returning with a sound third in the July Sprint at Rosehill a month earlier.

“He’s a good horse on his day, Maher added.
“Hopefully it keeps raining for him; that would be ideal.

“He was a little bit fresh the other day (Randwick) .
“I think he’ll tighten up between runs and can get back to form.

“He’s actually nicely weighted in that race.
“He gets down to 53kg so, if he can get the right conditions, I think it’s a nice race for him.”

Godolphin will also be represented at Flemington by Tom Kitten in the G1 Maybe Diva Stakes over 1,600m at weight-for-age, Aleppo Pine in the Listed Poseidon Stakes 1,100m for three-year-olds, while Tonkin and Tarpaulin clash in the TAB We’re On over the same distance.

Tom Kitten was scratched at the gates when fractious in the barriers before the G1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield two weeks ago, but has since trialled at Mornington under regular rider Ben Melham.

While the new Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained recruit will be aimed at all the big spring majors, missing the Caulfield run must be a concern before taking on elite gallopers Via Sistina, Mr Brightside, Antino and Aeliana.