2YO Premiership Hat Trick Chance for Godolphin

It’s going to take a little bit of luck and a few furrowed brows, but Godolphin has a genuine chance of claiming yet another Australian Black Type 2YO Premiership – it would be a hat trick – following the barnstorming professional success by Tempted (Street Boss) in Saturday’s $1 million Gr2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m). Following her unlucky Golden Slipper runner-up last month which was preceeded by a second in the Gr3 Widden Stud Stakes on debut and victory in the  Gr2 Reisling Stakes, Tempted was entitled to outclass her rivals and now sits nine points clear of her nearest rivals in the juvenile title chase. The concern for Tempted is that James Cummings has sent her to the paddock ahead of big Spring ambitions, meaning she is anchored on 35 points, followed by Wodeton (Wootton Bassett) on 26, Godolphin’s A & S Freedman-trained Tentyris (Street Boss, 25), Vinrock (I Am Invincible, 23), and Golden Slipper winner Marhoona (Snitzel, 21). If there are genuine dangers, it’s Vinrock and Within The Law (17 points) who remain in training at this point. Although it’s not impossible for some 2YOs that are further down the batting order to eclipse the 35 points of Tempted, it’s certainly challenging and would almost certainly require he or her winning a major Queensland juvenile lead-up and the Gr1 JJ Atkins. In the 2022-23 season, Godolphin’s Cylinder (Exceed and Excel) tied for first on 33 points, whilst last season, Broadsiding made an emphatic statement when claiming the title outright with 44 points. In 2020-21, Godolphin-campaigned Anamoe (Street Boss) put together a 2YO Premiership high total of 48 points before the subsequent Horse of the Year trained on to become the then all-time highest points earner (237) on the Australian Black Type Premiership. That has since been eclipsed by Mr Brightside whose current total is 268.

Tempted's 35 points may be enough to hold on (pic: Steve Hart)