Ciaron Maher-trained fillies Cherish Me and Exit will race just over an hour apart at Moonee Valley on Saturday, but they could be rivals before the spring is out if they perform as expected this weekend.
The Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) has been identified as a likely spring target for the two three-year-olds, who have had just three starts each.
Cherish Me runs in the 1200-metre Drummond Golf Plate that kicks off the card, while Exit tackles the 1523m Manhari Handicap.
Cherish Me is yet to race beyond 1200m, but Maher and his assistant trainer Jack Turnbull are convinced she can step out in trip and are hopeful the addition of blinkers this weekend will result in an improved showing on the disappointing first-up run.
At her first run since the Blue Diamond in February, Cherish Me finished sixth beaten just under three lengths by Ole Dancer at Caulfield on July 26.
The daughter of Brazen Beau has since impressively won a Cranbourne jumpout, which has Turnbull confident she can turn things around.
“She was just OK first-up, she travelled in patches and did a lot wrong, so she’s had a jumpout with blinkers and went very good,” Turnbull said.
“She was nice and sharp, had another piece on Tuesday morning with them on and in a small field, (she’s) ready to go.
“We think she’s a Thousand Guineas prospect. She probably goes to the Jim Moloney (Stakes) after Saturday, win lose or draw, and then you moulding her into that seven to eight-furlong type of horse.”
The $175,000 Listed Jim Moloney Stakes will be run over 1400m at Caulfield on September 20.
While Cherish Me is yet to race beyond 1200m, Exit steps up from 1400m at Flemington last start, when she was beaten as a $2.05 favourite.
The winner of that race, the Chris Waller-trained Crossbow, is again a rival at The Valley but Turnbull said the slight rise in trip was of benefit to Exit, a daughter of Bivouac.
“She just needs that little bit of extra distance now, but finds a winnable race again,” Turnbull said.
“I’m now shying away from her, I still think she’s got a lot of class.
“I don’t think she would lose any admirers (from last start), I certainly haven’t, and I expect her to run well again Saturday.”
Exit, who will be ridden by Mark Zahra, is fighting it out for favouritism with Crossbow, while Cherish Me heads betting on her race, in which she will be partnered by Tom Stockdale.
