The Tom Dabernig-trained Cavalry Girl is expected to take her place in the Carlyon Stakes in preparation for a Group 1 tilt at Sandown.
The Group 3 Carlyon Stakes (1000m) will be run at Sandown on Saturday with the Group 1 Moir Stakes over the same course and distance two weeks later.
Both races are run by the Moonee Valley Racing Club, but with the track unavailable due to it being reconfigured, the events have been transferred this year.
The Carlyon Stakes and Moir Stakes are expected to return to Moonee Valley next year.
Cavalry Girl has found peak form scoring in Listed company at Morphettville on July 25 before taking out a benchmark 100 race at Caulfield Heath on August 8.
Dabernig had floated the idea of freshening Cavalry Girl for a tilt at Stakes races during the Melbourne Cup Carnival but is loath to turn the mare out for a break whilst in top form.
“It’s Group 3, it’s 1000 metres,” Dabernig said of 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 place, it is expected Craig Williams will return to the saddle.
Williams partnered the then three-year-old when second to Signature Scent at Caulfield on July 11 before Todd Pannell won on her at Morphettville.
Linda Meech had the mount when successful last time.
“Craig hasn’t ridden her a lot, but he was in Ukraine last start,” Dabernig said.
“Linda’s ridden her and could ride that light weight, but it will be Craig this time.”
Dabernig also has Dreamzel entered in Saturday’s Group 3 sprint but said he was likely to save the mare for a benchmark 78 grade race at Bendigo on Wednesday week.
The Carlyon Stakes has 16 nominations and is headlined by Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Ole Dancer.
