Flying local mare Tempted has caused a boilover by toppling Ka Ying Rising in the $20 million The Everest, avenging her runner-up finish to the world’s No.1 rated horse in last year’s edition of the richest race on turf.
Prepared by mega-trainer Ciaron Maher for the Godolphin empire of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed, Tempted went into the 1200 metre sprint as second favourite at $6.50, seeking a sixth straight win and revenge for her 1.15 length second to Ka Ying Rising 12 months ago - the last time she was beaten.
Most punters wouldn’t hear of Ka Ying Rising losing. The Hong Kong wonder horse started a short odds-on favourite at $1.35 for the weight-for-age Group 1 sprint as he sought his 22nd straight win.
But on a day in which his Australian trainer and jockey, David Hayes and Zac Purton, were left to blame his wide starting barrier of gate 11 of 12, Ka Ying Rising had his colours lowered in running second by 0.23 lengths, or a long head.
Partnered by Chad Schofield in his first ride in the $20 million race, Tempted, in contrast, made full use of barrier No.1. Schofield pushed the four-year-old more forward than usual to travel fourth on the fence, behind two long-priced leaders.
With two rivals to his outside, Schofield’s move helped force Ka Ying Rising to cover considerable extra ground just behind that trio, racing five- and six-deep without cover from another horse ahead of him.
Tempted speared through a gap to take the lead in the home straight with 300m remaining, as Purton summoned his champion for his effort.
But while the packed Randwick crowd watched for Ka Ying Rising’s traditional finishing burst, Tempted’s early break proved a winning one. Ka Ying Rising continued to mow her down late, but the post arrived too soon to avert a memorable upset.
The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar finished well on the inside to take third, 0.35 lengths further back at $19, with the Matthew Smith-prepared Headwall fourth at $51.
Celebrating his second win in the race following Bella Nipotina's 2024 victory, Maher was elated after Tempted’s second Group 1 success, saying he was prepared for the mare to produce a personal best performance.
“Amazing. I thought she’d run a PB today,” he said. “Just (because of) her preparation. She smashed them last start and I knew barrier one was ideal.
“I’m thrilled. We knew we had to take a (forward) position. Chad knew what he had underneath him. She had to be phenomenal and she was.”
Schofield was full of praise for the way Tempted dug deep to win after hitting the front so early.
“I normally just ride her to relax and trust her to be far too good late,” he said.
“But it was a different race today. We had the world’s best horse in it. I had eyes for him. I knew he wasn’t up there and I sort of held my spot, and kept him deep. I’m pretty sure that made Zac have to (go) back.
“From there I had the perfect trip. I hit the front very early a very long way out, but she’s such a good horse, she was so brave and so game and we knocked them off.”
Hayes said Ka Ying Rising was brave “but I hate the result”.
“Sometimes barrier 11 can be a bonus but he got caught wide and he settled a bit further back than we thought he would,” he said.
“The first and third horse cut the corner and really had dream runs and we had a horror, being six-wide, no cover.”
Tempted's first prize of $7.5m took her earnings past $14.5m, with 10 wins from 15 starts.
