Tempt Me Not Could Miss Light Fingers Stakes

Tempt Me Not was included in the nominations for the 2016 Light Fingers Stakes that were released yesterday, but James Cummings revealed this morning that the promising filly may be saved for an easier assignment next weekend.

Tempt Me Not finished second behind Secret Agenda in the Gucci Stakes during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Tempt Me Not finished second behind Secret Agenda in the Gucci Stakes during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Tempt Me Not has recorded just two wins from 11 race starts during her racing career to date, but she performed well without a great deal of luck following her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.

The Strategic Maneuver filly returned to the races with a second place finish behind subsequent Group 1 winner Japonisme in The Tradie Magazine Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 1 and she returned to winning form with a win in the Place Multi Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury on August 19.

Tempt Me Not was not beaten far in the TAB Rewards Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on September 9 and the Pierro Yearlings Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury on October 7 and she was sent to the spelling paddock following her second place finish behind Secret Agenda in the Group 3 Gucci Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on November 5.

The three-year-old was given a soft trial at Royal Randwick on January 29 and she is now ready for her racing return, but Cummings said at track work this morning that he is unsure whether his filly is good enough to win over 1200 metres first-up against what is set to be a quality Light Fingers Stakes field.

“She trialed well against the older horses on the Kenso a couple of weeks ago,” Cummings said.

“It looks like the horse has trained on well since.

“She is going to come up against some really good fillies – the Thousand Guineas winner looked to have trialed well also – but it might be a good opportunity for her to add a Group 2 placing to her resume.

“We still have to consider whether we might be better off running next Saturday in the 1100.

“It might be much more winnable and we will decide that with the owners, but she certainly looks to have come up well and just needs to prove herself at 1200 this preparation.”

The 2016 Light Fingers Stakes nominations were released yesterday and the likes of Honesta, Stay With Me, Look To The Stars, Perignon, Pearls, Harlem River, Kangarilla Joy, Ghisoni, Cana, Queen Of Wands, Heartling, Perasino could all contest the Group 2 event at Royal Randwick this weekend.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.