Cavalry Girl targets Sandown success with Group 1 aspirations
Cavalry Girl, trained by Tom Dabernig, is slated to run in the Carlyon Stakes as a lead-up to a Group 1 campaign at Sandown.
The Group 3 Carlyon Stakes, a 1000-metre race at Sandown on Saturday, precedes the Group 1 Moir Stakes over the identical distance two weeks later.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club hosts both events, but track renovations mean they are being held elsewhere this year.
Plans are in place for the Carlyon Stakes and Moir Stakes to revert to Moonee Valley in the following year.
Cavalry Girl has hit a rich vein of form, winning a Listed race at Morphettville on July 25 and subsequently a benchmark 100 contest at Caulfield Heath on August 8.
Dabernig had considered resting Cavalry Girl for Stakes races during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but is hesitant to stop her campaign while she is in such outstanding condition.
"It's Group 3, it's 1000 metres," Dabernig stated concerning the Carlyon Stakes.
"Sandown is a bit of an unknown, but they run the Moir at Sandown this year, so I thought it was a good opportunity to see how she handles the track as we have got the Moir in the back of our mind.
"I was considering Flemington, but while she's in such a purple patch of form and she keeps pulling up well, the Carlyon could be there as potentially a winnable race, so you're crazy not to consider it.
"And if she runs well enough, and pulls up well enough, there is the Group 1 there a couple of weeks later."
If Cavalry Girl takes her starting position, it is expected Craig Williams will be aboard.
Williams rode the then three-year-old when she finished second to Signature Scent at Caulfield on July 11, before Todd Pannell guided her to victory at Morphettville.
Linda Meech was in the saddle for her most recent triumph.
"Craig hasn't ridden her a lot, but he was in Ukraine last start," Dabernig revealed.
"Linda's ridden her and could ride that light weight, but it will be Craig this time."
Dabernig has also entered Dreamzel for the Group 3 sprint on Saturday, but indicated the mare would likely be saved for a benchmark 78 race at Bendigo the following Wednesday.
The Carlyon Stakes has 16 nominees, including the Group 1 Thousand Guineas victor, Ole Dancer.
Explore the best betting sites for the upcoming race.
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