Tempted upsets Ka Ying Rising in epic Everest

Star Godolphin mare Tempted has caused an almighty upset in The Everest, ending Ka Ying Rising’s 21-race winning streak, holding off the Hong Kong champ to win the $20 million race.

After a brilliant ride by Chad Schofield, the Godolphin-owned Ciaron Maher-trained mare reversed the result of 12 months ago, holding on to defeat the $1.35 favourite Ka Ying Rising by a half-neck while Joliestar finished third.

Tempted became the first winner for Godolphin in the race, both as owner and as a slotholder, and is the second mare to win The Everest, after Ciaron Maher’s Bella Nipotina in 2024.

In a fascinating tactical race between the two main protagonists, Tempted sat just behind the pace from the inside draw, while Zac Purton settled Ka Ying Rising further back than expected off his wide gate.

Schofield sent the mare clear at the 300-metre mark while Purton was working on the favourite, and Ka Ying Rising’s late surge fell short, in a dramatic end to his long winning streak.

“First time I’ve really ridden her and asked her from the start. I normally just ride her to relax and trust her to be far too good late,” Schofield said.

“But it was a different race today. We had the world’s best sprinter, the world’s best horse. I had eyes for him, and I knew he wasn’t up there and I held my spot and kept him deep and I’m pretty sure that made Zac have to come back.”

Schofield said the forward position had not been planned. “Ciaron just said, let her be. If she wants to be there, let her be there. He felt in this race last year she was a pair further back than she needed to be,” he said.

Maher said he had been confident after seeing the mare on Saturday morning.

WOW! 🤩 Last year's runner-up is this year's TAB Everest winner!
Tempted holds off the world's best racehorse to claim victory! ✌️@SchofieldChad @cmaherracing @godolphin @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/h4n2a94uaE

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 17, 2026

“Chad knew what he had underneath him. She had to be phenomenal, and she was,” the trainer said.

“A lot of horses don’t reach their full potential but Godolphin has been very patient with Tempted.”

Tempted ran the 1200 metres in 1:08.21, with a final 600 metres of 34.28 seconds.

David Hayes put the defeat down to the draw and what he termed a ‘horror’ run.

“We didn’t expect him to be there, but it was the barrier. Sometimes eleven can be a bonus, but he got caught wide,” Hayes said.

“He settled a bit further back than we thought he would, and if we have to take a positive out of it, he was in front one stride after the post.”

“The first and third horse cut the corner and really had dream runs, and we had a horror (run) being six-wide, no cover. But he was brave, and I love the way he finished, but I hate the result.”

Ka Ying Rising arrived in Sydney as the world’s top-rated racehorse. The October 8 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings had him on 135, four points clear. Hayes said the gelding would run on Longines Hong Kong International Races day in December and on Champions Day and added: “This season is only just starting, so hopefully we might come back next year.”

“I’ve never been more proud of her. She has run the race of her life,” James McDonald said of Joliestar.

Tempted, a Godolphin homebred by Darley’s Street Boss out of the Exceed And Excel mare Calliope, could now be campaigned overseas.

Asked whether she could take on the world, Maher said: “She probably could but she is still a little bit quirky. You could see that going out on the track, she was a bit ‘fruity’. But she is improving all the time.”

Schofield believes she has not reached her peak. “She’s had three runs this prep and got better each time. Why won’t she keep improving now as a four-year-old?” he said.