Bullarook Stud resident Strategic Maneuver opened his black-type account with Tempt Me Not on the first day of The Championships at Randwick.

The Gooree homebred overcame a wide draw and for a barrier-to-box victory in the LR P J Bell Stakes (1200m).  She defied running down in the straight to prevail by a half-length from Darley filly Pearls (Exceed And Excel).

Tempt Me Not had won at Newcastle & Canterbury last year and resumed for a Group 2 placing in the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick in February.  “She had a month between runs and we kept her up to the mark at the beach,” trainer James Cummings said.  “She won a trial at Warwick Farm last week and we were pretty confident of a forward showing today.

Tempt Me Not is the first foal of Ganda (Encosta De Lago), a daughter of Gooree’s Group 1 winning filly Tempest Morn (STC Ansett Australia Stakes & SAJC Australasian Oaks).

Strategic Maneuver (pictured) is bred on the same Royal Academy – Vain cross as Bel Esprit and he carried Gooree’s black and red striped silks to a debut win at Randwick but broke a pedal bone second time out at Canterbury.

Bullarook Stud owner Malcolm Boyd stood Strategic Maneuver in Avenel for a $6,600 (inc gst) service fee last year.