Ciaron Maher has yet to make a final decision whether he will be in Sydney with Tempted or Melbourne with Observer on Saturday, when he is short odds for a Group 1 double in Godolphin blue.
Everest runner-up Tempted is yet to taste Group 1 success but has been posted $1.50 for Saturday’s Surround Stakes.
Observer will be looking to join an elite band of Hitotsu, Riff Rocket, Mahogany and King’s High to complete the VRC Derby-Australian Guineas on Saturday.
“I think it might be Sydney on the weekend, I have been down here in Melbourne for the last couple of weeks and I might go to see Tempted,” Maher said.
“It doesn’t make any difference on the track, I haven’t been there before for Group 1 wins, but is a hard decision this week.”
Maher got Observer and Tempted from James Cummings at the beginning of the season and has watched them develop to the top of an excellent class of three-year-olds.
Tempted arrived as a Golden Slipper place getter and Percy Sykes Stakes winner when she went to Maher.
“We knew she was a talented horse, and we have just kept her going and improving,” Maher said.
“She is a bit sassy, so Bong Bong [training complex] suits her.”
“I wouldn’t say she has surprised us, but she is the quickest ever up the hill at Bong Bong.”
“She is in great shape and gets her to a Group 1 target on Saturday.”
Tempted resumed by outclassing her rivals in the Eskimo Prince Stakes a couple of weeks ago and has taken the right steps since.
She has claims to be best three-year-old in the country, as does Observer, who stamped himself as a special colt returning from his VRC Derby success with a dominating victory in the Autumn Stakes and will be better suited at the mile on Saturday.
“They always knew Observer had a good engine but it is getting him to use it right,” Maher said.
“The Ghaiyyath breed can be a bit free running, but he is getting better at that all the time.”
“As he steps up in trip, he is only going to get better.”
