Tom Dabernig and the connections of Cavalry Girl are aiming to extend the mare’s successful run as she prepares for Caulfield Heath.
Cavalry Girl achieved a significant win in Adelaide during her last start and is scheduled to compete in the Sweeney Estate Agents Handicap (1000m) this Saturday.
The now four-year-old mare secured a valuable Listed victory in the Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on July 25, adding crucial Black Type to her breeding credentials.
“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 stated. “And Bivouac (her sire) is actually doing quite well also.”
That Adelaide triumph was against younger competitors, and now as a four-year-old, she faces more formidable opposition.
Dabernig acknowledges the increased difficulty of Saturday’s Benchmark 100 contest but points to several encouraging factors.
“If you look at the benchmark of all the other horses, it not a true 100 sprint,” Dabernig commented. “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.”
Dabernig believes Saturday’s 1000m distance might be Cavalry Girl’s optimal trip, though she has previously won at 1050m and performed over 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 indicated he will assess Cavalry Girl’s performance on Saturday before making future plans.
He mentioned that the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m), scheduled for Sandown on September 5, is a potential target.
“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 observed. “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.”
Punters looking to back Cavalry Girl in the Sweeney Estate Agents Handicap can find the best racing odds at Australian betting sites.