Each week, Daniel O’Sullivan provides insights into the top performers from The Rating Bureau’s WFA Performance Ratings across various categories. This week, the spotlight is on Tempted, who has emerged as one of Australia’s leading sprinters with a commanding 104 rating win in the G2 Run To The Rose.
Tempted’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. Raging Force set a strong pace early on, but Tempted’s ability to accelerate between the 400m and 100m marks showcased her exceptional talent. Competitors ahead lacked the class to maintain their speed, while those trailing couldn’t match her explosive turn of foot.
Tempted’s Place Among the Elite
To contextualize Tempted’s performance among open-age sprinters, only Joliestar’s 105 in the Newmarket has rated higher in 2025. Other notable performances include Briasa’s 103.8 in the G1 TJ Smith and Private Harry’s 102.3 in the G1 Galaxy.
Meanwhile, Autumn Boy also delivered an impressive return, improving on his 97.4 peak win during the Brisbane carnival to achieve a 100.4 rating, finishing second to his stablemate Sixties in the G3 Ming Dynasty over 1400m. Notably, he carried 3.5kg more than the winner, giving him a superior weight-adjusted rating.
Rising Stars and Established Champions
Autumn Glow further solidified her reputation as a future Group 1 contender with a 104 rating win in the G2 Theo Marks Stakes. Her performance, characterized by fast overall time and strong closing sectionals, suggests she will excel over longer distances, making her a strong candidate for the G1 Epsom Handicap.
Manaal, after a subdued autumn, bounced back with a 98.5 rating win in the G2 Sheraco Stakes, matching her career peak from her G1 Sires’ Produce win as a two-year-old.
Mr Brightside’s Tactical Mastery
Mr Brightside’s control of the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes was a masterclass in race strategy. Despite a slow pace, he sprinted home in a blistering last 600m, achieving a 102 WFA Performance Rating. This performance aligns with his autumn peak of 101.9, marking the third-best 600m sprint of his career.
Mr Brightside ran +11.1L above standard for his final 600m, a testament to his enduring class.
Those chasing Mr Brightside, including Aeliana, Via Sistina, and Antino, were limited by the slow tempo, yet Antino’s +11.9 carried significant merit.
Juja Kibo and Revelare: Emerging Contenders
Juja Kibo showcased improved positioning, leading to a dominant win with a new peak rating of 97. This marked a significant improvement from his previous best of 91.3.
Revelare secured his Melbourne Cup spot with a victory in the G3 Archer Stakes, lifting his peak from 95 to 96.2. As an Australian-bred, owned, and trained horse, Revelare embodies the local spirit, though his current ratings suggest more work is needed to be competitive in the Cup.
Revelare has won seven of his last eight races, indicating potential for further improvement.
Despite his current ratings, Revelare’s lightly raced profile and potential for growth over longer distances offer hope for his Melbourne Cup prospects.
Understanding WFA Performance Ratings
WFA Performance Ratings (WPRs) provide a standardized measure of horse performance, normalized to weight-for-age. These ratings account for race times, sectional times, margin spread, previous ratings, and weights carried, offering a comprehensive view of a horse’s capabilities.
While subjective factors like luck or race conditions are excluded, the ratings offer a reliable guide to assessing performance across different contexts.
As the racing season progresses, the performances of Tempted, Mr Brightside, and other rising stars will be closely watched, with their ratings providing key insights into their potential and prospects in upcoming events.
