Arabian Summer chases Caulfield Black Type in Quezette Stakes

Arabian Summer has been a beneficiary of some excellent prize money on offer from Magic Millions through her first season on the racetrack.

And trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy would like to add some more Magic Millions money early in the New Year, but first there are some early spring assignments in Melbourne.

One of those is at Caulfield on Saturday when Arabian Summer runs in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m).

A win in that would make Arabian Summer a Black Type winner, rather than a dual Black Type placegetter.

Arabian Summer was placed in Stakes company at her first two starts – at Caulfield and Flemington – before winning the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Ballarat in December.

A warm-up race was won at the Gold Coast a week before Arabian Summer finished fifth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast.

After a spell, Arabian Summer returned to claim a new Magic Millions race on the calendar at Doomben in May before returning to Melbourne.

Looking to add a Black Type win before the end of her two-year-old season, Arabian Summer was sent to Adelaide for the Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphettville on July 27, only to be scratched at the barrier.

Tony McEvoy said it was a shame as the filly was on target to run well.

“It was just a tragedy what happened in Adelaide,” McEvoy said.

“The Adelaide system over there is where she was drawn, she went in early, and she stood in there for ages.

“She’s a high twitch fibre filly and she just wanted to get on with it and eventually she reared up and put a leg up over the front and as soon as they do that, they scratch them.”

McEvoy said Arabian Summer would head to the Quezette Stakes on Saturday and potentially have another couple of starts before a freshen up.

A new race at the Magic Millions Carnival at the Gold Coast in January has attracted McEvoy’s attention, the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight, a slot race, restricted to 12 runners.

Sunlight is a former Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner and Group 1 winning mare trained by the McEvoy father-and-son training pair.

“We’ll get her through the early part of the spring, back off and aim up there,” McEvoy said.

“She’s so effective up there.”

McEvoy said Blue Stratum was likely to back-up in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) on Saturday after pleasing the stable following his win at Moonee Valley last Saturday.