Trainer Tom Dabernig anticipates Cavalry Girl will compete in the Carlyon Stakes, as a stepping stone towards a Group 1 attempt at Sandown.

The Group 3 Carlyon Stakes (1000m) is scheduled for Sandown on Saturday, followed by the Group 1 Moir Stakes over the same distance two weeks later.

Both feature races are organised by the Moonee Valley Racing Club, however, due to track reconfiguration, they have been relocated this year.

It is expected that the Carlyon Stakes and Moir Stakes will return to Moonee Valley next year.

Cavalry Girl has been in exceptional form, securing a Listed race victory at Morphettville on July 25, followed by a win in a benchmark 100 event at Caulfield Heath on August 8.

Dabernig had previously considered giving Cavalry Girl a break for Stakes races during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but is reluctant to spell the mare while she is performing so well.

“It’s Group 3, it’s 1000 metres,” Dabernig commented regarding 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.”

Should Cavalry Girl participate, it is anticipated that Craig Williams will resume riding duties.

Williams guided the then three-year-old to a second-place finish behind Signature Scent at Caulfield on July 11, prior to Todd Pannell’s win on her at Morphettville.

Linda Meech was the jockey for her most recent victory.

“Craig hasn’t ridden her a lot, but he was in Ukraine last start,” Dabernig explained.

“Linda’s ridden her and could ride that light weight, but it will be Craig this time.”

Dabernig has also nominated Dreamzel for Saturday’s Group 3 sprint, but indicated the mare would likely be saved for a benchmark 78 grade race at Bendigo on Wednesday week.

The Carlyon Stakes has attracted 16 nominations, with Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Ole Dancer among the entries.

Consider checking out the latest Australian betting sites for the Carlyon Stakes.