The Championships Day 2: Tempted overcomes wide run to show her class in dominant Percy Sykes Stakes win

High-class Godolphin filly Tempted was forced to cover plenty of ground but ended a terrific two-year-old campaign with a commanding victory in the Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick.

Tempted was too good despite a wide run in the Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Godolphin filly Tempted had to do things the hard way and still had too much class for her rivals in an impressive sprint display at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey James McDonald was never closer than three-deep from the outside draw but the James Cummings-trained filly lifted to the challenge to salute in the Group 2 $1m Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m).

Tempted ($3.10 favourite) unleashed a powerful burst of speed to beat the Brad Widdup-trained Savvy Hallie ($18) by a length and three-quarters with Bjorn Baker’s Within The Law ($5) in third.

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“She’s a good filly and ridden like the best one and she was too good,” McDonald said.

“She always felt like the winner, she paraded really well today with the earmuffs on, a real credit to James and his team.

“He kept her up and he said she would win today.”

Tempted had her first run of her maiden racing campaign back in December and has shown excellent consistency throughout the preparation.

She was one of the hard luck stories of the Golden Slipper after only getting clear air late and flashing home for third behind Marhoona and Wodeton.

The daughter of Street Boss was already a Group 2 winner following her success in the Reisling Stakes earlier this preparation before adding more black type to her page in the Percy Sykes.

Tempted is all class in the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes! 💪@JamesCummings88 | @mcacajamez | @godolphin@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/uQ5NpVO0Iv

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 12, 2025

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“She’s an outstanding two-year-old filly, she got another opportunity to prove it at the Championships here this afternoon, so I was most pleased that she got the chance to show that,” Cummings said.

“She had a lot more clear air today than she faced three weeks ago, but the Golden Slipper form is great form and she proved it despite the wide run, which we did feel on paper was inevitable.

“But we took our medicine as far covering ground and facing the breeze goes and gave Tempted the opportunity to show her class and she did just that.”

Cummings said Tempted would now enjoy a well-earned break with the trainer potentially planning to target the early legs of the three-year-old fillies Princess Series in the spring.

“It’s time for a good break,” he said.

“She ran rest in a single paddock at Osborne Park at the foot of the mountains and enjoy a bit of equine paradise but I like bring her back for the Silver Shadow and Furious or maybe she is a good enough filly to go to the Run To The Rose against the boys.”

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Pedigree Enriched after Winx’s ‘nephew’ salutes in Arrowfield

Enriched took advantage of the shock race-morning withdrawal of boom filly Autumn Glow to secure a potentially career-defining win on day two of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Michael Freedman continued stable’s successful autumn carnival when Enriched scored a tough win in the $1m Arrowfield Sprint (1200m).

At his previous start, Enriched had finished second in fast time behind Autumn Glow and the filly was a hot favourite until her withdrawal earlier in the day after she was found to have an elevated temperature.

“Coming into the race today we were expecting to do our best against the filly but unfortunately she had to be scratched,” Freedman said.

“But he is a high class colt, a beautiful individual and this win was important. He’s a son of a champion stallion in I Am Invincible out of a half-sister to Winx so he has a big (pedigree) page.

“He’s won a Group 2 but I think this race potentially could have Group 1 status and I hope his win attracts some attention as I’m sure he has a future at stud.”

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Enriched gets there in the G2 Arrowfield Sprint for @MFreedmanRacing and @TommyBerry21! 👏@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/jN5OIiRRLw

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 12, 2025

Enriched ($4.60), ridden by Tommy Berry, settled outside leader Imperial Force ($5.50) before edging clear of that horse to win by a neck. Public Attention ($5.50) didn’t have a lot of luck in the straight and was beaten a length into third.

Big Swinger was backed into $3.20 favouritism and settled back in the small field. The race developed into a sprint home – the final 600m was run in a swift 32.84s – and Big Swinger was doing his best work on the line to finish a close fifth.

Berry said it was the plan to be positive and position Enriched on the pace.

“He’s got that brilliant speed and you can use that and ask him knowing that as soon as you put the bit in his mouth he just comes back to you and relaxes so well,” Berry said.

“So, after a furlong, we had one cheap sectional and I thought he just can’t get beat.

“It made it a bit easier with the filly being out today, but he would have given her a run for her money.

“He might not have beaten her, she’s pretty special, but he’s a good colt; he’s very well-bred, so that will go a long way.”

Freedman, who prepared Marhoona to win the Golden Slipper last month, said Enriched could stay in training for the Group 1 sprints in Brisbane.

“Certainly, today was the race we really wanted to target so it is job done in that respect,” Freedman said.

“Whether we press on further we will wait and see how he pulls up, and you never make decisions on raceday.”

- Ray Thomas

Originally published as The Championships Day 2: Tempted overcomes wide run to show her class in dominant Percy Sykes Stakes win