Tom Dabernig and the connections of Cavalry Girl are looking to maintain the mare’s successful run as she prepares for Caulfield Heath.
Cavalry Girl achieved a notable victory in Adelaide at her most recent outing and is slated to run in the Sweeney Estate Agents Handicap over 1000 metres on Saturday.
The four-year-old mare secured a significant Listed win in the Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on July 25, adding essential Black Type to her pedigree.
“She’s raced very consistently and then won over in Adelaide last time which was quite a comfortable win and important for her in getting the Black Type which is a big thing for her breeding future,” Dabernig commented. “And Bivouac (her sire) is actually doing quite well also.”
Her previous Adelaide success was against two and three-year-old competitors, and now as a four-year-old mare, she faces a more challenging field.
Dabernig is cognizant of the tougher nature of Saturday’s Benchmark 100 race, but he highlighted several positive aspects.
“If you look at the benchmark of all the other horses, it not a true 100 sprint,” Dabernig stated. “She’s also good at Caulfield, she’s got the minimum weight, she’s got a good gate and it’s a small field, so she should run well.”
“We trialled against (fellow Warrnambool-trained) Stokke with Shadhavar recently and it looks to be going well, but I would say with our race fitness, we’re pretty confident to be taking it on.”
The trainer suggested that the 1000m distance on Saturday is likely Cavalry Girl’s preferred trip, although she has won at 1050m and performed adequately at 1100m.
“Craig Williams has mentioned that we could try 1200 (metres), but we know the 1000 is a good formula for her,” Dabernig explained. “I looked ahead in the program, and it was a little bit awkward to try and find the right race and I thought this did look the right race. She is jumping out of her skin, but ideally, I would have preferred it to be three weeks, that would have been perfect.”
Dabernig mentioned that he will assess Cavalry Girl’s performance on Saturday before determining her future racing plans.
He indicated that the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m), set to be held at Sandown on September 5, is a potential target being considered.
“She’s never been to Sandown, and that track is racing pretty tired, and we know she loves Caulfield and, or the Flemington straight,” Dabernig said. “If she won on Saturday, the Moir could be a consideration, while the other thing is because she’s raced through winter we could freshen her up and come back later in the spring for a race maybe during Melbourne Cup week.”
Those keen to wager on Cavalry Girl in the Sweeney Estate Agents Handicap can find competitive racing odds at online bookmakers.
