Written by Trent Masenhelder for racing.com
In-form sprinter Cavalry Girl punched her ticket to the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown Hillside on September 5 with a gutsy victory in Saturday’s G3 Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at the same venue.
The Tom Dabernig-trained mare is in a rich vein of form, having won three in a row (two in Stakes company) and four of her past five starts.
Image Courtesy of Bruno Cannatelli
Dabernig said Saturday’s win was enough to rubber stamp her Group 1 tilt in the Moir.
“It’s great, I’m thrilled she’s won at Sandown. Provided she pulls up well, we’ll be looking at the Moir. Today was perfect, really,” Dabernig said.
Cavalry Girl jumped well from the inside gate and settled behind the leader, Beast Mode, and to the inside of Bazaball Rewarded. Jockey Craig Williams was bailed-up on Cavalry Girl, before a neat run on the fence presented 200 metres from home. The four-year-old let down strongly on the heavy track, going on to score by half-a-length, with Bazaball Rewarded second and Losesomewinmore third.
“Before the race, Craig was concerned the speed was going to be a bit hot. We know that we’re a very fast filly, but he was mindful that he didn’t want to get caught up in a speed battle. In doing so, he had to ride for a bit of luck, and he got that split,” Dabernig remarked.
“Once she got through, she won quite comfortably.”
Bred by Patrick Hodgens and Bill Piper, Cavalry Girl – a daughter of Bivouac – is the first foal of Islands, herself a winning half-sister to the Group 2 victress Magic Millions 2YO Classic heroine Military Rose.
Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds paid $110,000 for her from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and with this latest win, Cavalry Girl has banked $520,000 in prizemoney.
“She’s a very, very good racehorse. She wants to win and she’s got a great desire to win,” O’Neill said.
The past two winners of the Carlyon – Baraqiel (2025) and Mornington Glory (2024) – both went on to take out the Moir.
“I think we should be heading to the Moir now. This has been a good lead-in race to the Moir the past few years and I think she deserves a chance,” O’Neill added.
Cavalry Girl’s victory was the fourth of the afternoon for Williams.