Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Tempted the class factor at Randwick
Few horses in Australia boast the consistency and pure class of the Ciaron Maher-trained Tempted (Street Boss {USA}), despite the fact she is yet to secure a Group 1 victory.
Her record includes wins in the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes, G2 Run To The Rose, and G2 Reisling Stakes, as well as placings in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes and a brave second in the G1 The Everest behind the superstar Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).
A Group 1 victory is the clear target this preparation and the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes presents as an ideal stepping stone towards the G1 Furious Stakes. While she may not be fully screwed down, a winning fresh performance would come as no surprise.
Tempted | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord reflected on her previous first-up brilliance, but stressed the bigger picture this time around.
“We knew she was a very good horse, but didn’t expect her to be that good first-up,’’ he said. “She might do that again, but this time it’s about having her right in three weeks to get that Group 1 out of the way.
“We knew she (Tempted) was a very good horse, but didn’t expect her to be that good first-up.’’ - Johann Gerard-Dubord
“We didn’t ask her too much in the trial and she came through it well. She’s had a good base, she’s a little bit heavier so she naturally takes a bit more work.
“She might have a bit more improvement than she did first-up last prep because of that. We know what we’ve got to work with this time and what we are working towards.”
Johann Gerard-Dubord | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The team couldn’t be happier with how the filly is tracking.
“What we’ve seen at home with her, you don’t see many horses working the way she does, she’s one out of the box,’’ Gerard-Dubord said.
“You don’t see many horses working the way she (Tempted) does, she’s one out of the box.’’ - Johann Gerard-Dubord
“She was only a spring 3-year-old filly in the Everest and naturally she will be stronger this time.
“It has been very smooth the whole time. She hasn’t missed a beat, we’ve been happy with her work, her weight, everything we’ve wanted going into the race we’ve seen.”
Among the dangers on Saturday are the Wootton Bassett (GB) pair Wodeton and Napoleonic. While Wodeton’s strike rate is modest, his class is undeniable, while Napoleonic was dominant winning the G3 Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley last October and has trialled impressively leading into his return.
Star Of Jamaica seeking to emulate Dad in Inglis Millennium
Chris and Corey Munce head to Randwick with hopes of pulling off a $1 million raid in the R. Inglis Listed Millennium with Star Of Jamaica (Profiteer), their talented colt whose sire Profiteer won this very race in 2021.
Confidence has been bolstered by events across the Tasman, where Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca) recently claimed the NZ$1 million Karaka Millions 2YO at Ellerslie. Star Of Jamaica finished second to the filly on debut at Eagle Farm, a defeat that still frustrates Munce.
Star Of Jamaica | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
"I am sure that if my colt had jumped cleanly at his first start, he would have beaten Dream Roca," Munce told racenet.com earlier in the week. "We thought he would win his first start, but then he came out slow and did a few things wrong. Anyway, he got beaten.”
Star Of Jamaica bounced back in style with a dominant Sunshine Coast victory on January 24.
"But the other day when he won, he came out a lot better and it was good that the jockey was able to teach him to switch off.
Chris Munce | Image courtesy of Munce Racing
"It looked like he was going nowhere at about the 300 metres, but then when he realised he had to get out and chase, that's when he lengthened stride and knuckled down. The horse is still learning, but certainly that run the other day has brought him on a lot, that's for sure."
"The horse is still learning, but certainly that run the other day has brought him (Star Of Jamaica) on a lot." - Chris Munce
Munce has no concerns about the extra trip.
"I am sure the extra 100 metres of this race will be fine for this horse, it took until around the back of the course last time before Ryan (Maloney) could pull him up," Munce said. "So the extra distance isn't a worry. It is just about the horse putting it all together – if he does that, I've got no doubt he will be in the finish.
"It is just about the horse (Star Of Jamaica) putting it all together – if he does that, I've got no doubt he will be in the finish." - Chris Munce
"The form of the race is hard to work out and I don't really know the southern form well enough either."
At this point in time, the race looks wide open. Plagiarism (Written By) brings strong debut form, Where’s The Circus (Trapeze Artist) and Jacaranda (Home Affairs) are fillies that both impressed winning on debut, Screen Icon (Nicconi) profiles as a blow-out chance, while the Andrew Forsman-trained Listed winner Lassified (Stay Inside) adds further intrigue crossing the Tasman.
Lady Moscato heads Waterhouse/Bott trio in the Lonhro
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott boast an outstanding record with 2-year-olds and they look well placed to add to it on Saturday with three runners engaged in the Listed Lonhro Plate, alongside ante-post favourite Plagiarism in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium.
The headline act in the Lonhro Plate is the daughter of the dual Group winner Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt) in Lady Moscato (Home Affairs), who was purchased by her trainers in conjunction with Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $1.05 million at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Adrian Bott was delighted with her debut effort when she finished a flashing second behind Toorak Jewel (Tassort) in the $500,000 Magic Millions Debut at the Gold Coast.
Lady Moscato | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"We always intended to have her up there then wanted to see her in some of the (Golden) Slipper lead ups, and this race gives us the right timing," Bott told racingandsports. "After this, we can go into one of the fillies' races and hopefully give ourselves a Slipper chance."
"We always intended to have her (Lady Moscato) up there then wanted to see her in some of the (Golden) Slipper lead ups, and this race gives us the right timing." - Adrian Bott
Lady Moscato will be joined by stablemates Caloocan Beauty (USA) (Justify {USA}) and debutante Agrarian Girl (Tassort). Caloocan Beauty finished fourth to Satin Summer (Written Tycoon) at her only start, while Agrarian Girl defeated subsequent G3 Canonbury Stakes winner Hidrix (Extreme Choice) in a recent trial.
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"Caloocan Beauty was very good the other day and will be better for that experience. She looks to have improved and gone the right way," he said.
"Agrarian Girl is giving away a bit of race experience. It's an ask on debut but it's her home track, but the form around her trial looks good now following the Canonbury and has been validated in the last seven days."
"The form around her (Agrarian Girl) trial looks good now following the Canonbury and has been validated in the last seven days." - Adrian Bott
It shapes as a very even contest. Spicy Miss (Trapeze Artist) has the right form to make her presence felt, while Savage Look (Wild Ruler) may start at longer odds, but is one of only two winners in the field and demands respect. The Richard Collett-trained Essay (Zousain), ridden by daughter Alysha Collett, could be the blow-out runner after showing talent at the trials.
Feroce set to strike in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes
The Dominic Sutton-trained Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) appears well placed to resume strongly in the G3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, particularly given he finished third first-up at Group 1 level in last autumn’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
The bigger question may come after Saturday in terms of where the G1 Australian Guineas winner heads next, with his versatility offering Sutton a range of options.
"We haven't made any set plans. We want to see how he returns first-up," Sutton told racingandsports.
Feroce (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"We'll probably keep him to that 1400 metres, to a mile, but he has returned well.
"Potentially he could head to the Futurity, the All-Star Mile, but if we need to keep him a level down, there is also the Blamey at Flemington.
"The weather will dictate whether he goes to Sydney for a race like the Doncaster, but we'll probably just target Victoria because we know how wet Sydney can get in the autumn.
"I'll be dodging the wet tracks with him."
Feroce enjoyed a promising start to his spring campaign before conditions and tactics worked against him.
Dominic Sutton | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
"He had a really good start to the spring and in the Rupert Clarke, he was super, ran a peak performance that day, and then we got things tactically wrong in the Toorak," Sutton said.
"We pressed forward from a wide gate, and he just couldn't do it in that high pressure race, riding the speed and that pressure early.
"Then we took him to Sydney for the Golden Eagle. It rained on the day, it was a horrible track, horrible conditions. He needs a good surface, and it was literally a forget run."
"He (Feroce) needs a good surface, and it (the Golden Eagle) was literally a forget run." - Dominic Sutton
While Sutton sees Feroce’s best range as 1400 to 1600 metres, he remains open to testing him again at 2000 metres.
"It was an afterthought and he was the youngest horse in the race and with Pride Of Jenni in the race, it was a stiff 2000 metres," Sutton said.
"I have always thought he would be a 10-furlong horse, but he does seem to sprint quite well fresh. We'll see which way he takes us, but there are plenty of options."
"He (Feroce) does seem to sprint quite well fresh. We'll see which way he takes us, but there are plenty of options." - Dominic Sutton
The classy Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) looms as the major threat under suitable weight-for-age conditions, while Zou Sensation (Zoustar) brings solid winning form into the race.
Bedggood chasing trans-Tasman glory
It looms as a big weekend for Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood, who saddles up seven runners at Caulfield, while stable star Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) runs at Te Rapa in the NZ$700,000 G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes.
A touch of superstition is keeping Bedggood away from Caulfield, despite strong chances Hedged (Capitalist) in the G2 Rubiton Stakes and unbeaten Jenni The Ninja (Shalaa {Ire}).
Hedged | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Hedged has won twice (for the stable) and both times I haven’t been on course,” he told racing.com. “So I’ll be making my way across the ditch again.”
"Hedged has won twice (for the stable) and both times I haven’t been on course - so I’ll be making my way across the ditch again." - Gavin Bedggood
Kingswood has remained in New Zealand after claiming the G1 Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day.
“He’s in great order,” Bedggood said. “It’s been a little bit testing (having him in New Zealand), but if we can win another Group 1, it will have been definitely worth the while.”
Kingswood (GB) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Depending on how Saturday unfolds, Kingswood could remain across the Tasman for next month’s G1 Bonecrusher Stakes.
Saturday's weight-for-age contest lacks true depth, but El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) looms a danger if he can rediscover his best form. The progressive Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel) should relish the step up in trip, while fellow Australian-trained runner Knobelas (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) shapes as a major winning hope if she handles the rise to 2000 metres.
