The $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), a crown jewel of Sydney’s ‘The Championships’ on April 4, is the likely next target for Tempted. Ciaron Maher’s brilliant filly officially joined the elite ranks of Group 1 winners on Saturday, justifying the hype with a hard-fought victory in the 2026 Surround Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Tempted narrowly saluted for the punters as the odds-on favourite in the Surround Stakes 2026. Photo: Bradley Photos.

The Everest runner-up from the spring was crunched in betting to start as an odds-on favourite for her second-up assignment, following a dominant return against the colts in the Eskimo Prince Stakes.

Stepping back into her own sex for the $750,000 Surround Stakes (1400m), she displayed champion qualities to secure the prestigious title.

“Quality, you know, she’s got so much of it,” an elated Ciaron Maher told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-race.

“I’m just thrilled to be able to train for Godolphin, her record speaks for itself, so to be able to tick off a Group 1 for her is very, very special.”

Under the guidance of Chad Schofield, the Street Boss filly maintained her stellar Randwick strike rate.

She was forced to dig deep to overhaul the gutsy leader Savvy Hallie, providing a thrilling result for those who took the short price.

“Chad (Schofield), he knew what he had underneath him,” Maher noted.

“I was actually thinking, ‘come on, you can get a little bit more desperate’ halfway down the straight.

“But, 1400m is probably right at the top of her distance range, as we’ve seen, she’s ran second and now won at Group 1 level.”

Maher suggested the filly might be even more effective dropping back in trip.

“You’d think she’s more dynamic at six (furlongs). Group 1s are everything for these fillies, especially for a team like Godolphin and their Broodmare band. I’m absolutely thrilled,” he added.

Punter’s Edge: Following the win, Tempted has moved from $5 into $4.60 in futures markets to become the first filly to win the TJ Smith Stakes since Melito in 2010!

In the run, Schofield settled the Godolphin-owned star just off the speed.

After balancing up at the turn, he launched a sweeping challenge, engaging in a head-to-head duel down the Randwick straight that kept punters on the edge of their seats.

The Brad Widdup-trained Savvy Hallie ($10) proved a formidable opponent for Tempted ($1.60F), refusing to yield until the top fancy secured the win by a bob of the head in a photo finish.

“I probably didn’t expect to be in that position, but there was a lot more pressure early, which I had a feeling might happen,” Schofield remarked regarding the race tempo.

“I didn’t want to engage early and sort of switch her on and get her over-travelling, so I very much just left her alone and rode her to get the trip.”

He added, “I came through the top of the rise full of horse, really smooth through her gears, and I had to sort of really dig into her legs.

“She had to dig deeper. She’s a very good horse. We kept finding, but we had to because that second filly was tremendously brave.

“Just the way I canted up to her, but then Savvy Hallie, she found a lot more.

“Very good run by two good fillies, but I think we were the better one on the day.”

Rounding out the placings was the Moody & Coleman-trained Ole Dancer ($9).

The Thousand Guineas winner finished nearly two lengths adrift of the top pair after failing to match their late acceleration.

“She is a pleasure to ride. She probably didn’t break the gates too well,” jockey Zac Lloyd said of Ole Dancer.

“Didn’t want to sit behind Tempted and be dictated too. So let her stride and I thought she was very gallant up the straight.”

Focus now shifts to the 2026 TJ Smith Stakes, with Maher eager to test her against the best open-age sprinters in the country.

“Well, you know, she’s got options now,” Maher said.

“Originally, I thought that (the TJ Smith Stakes) would be the plan, but I’ll sit down with the team and ask them, and we’ll work it through and they’ve managed it well so far.”

Tempted currently sits at $4.60 in TJ Smith Stakes betting at Ladbrokes as she looks to follow in the footsteps of 2010 winner Melito.

2026 Surround Stakes Results & Finishing Order

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