A stunning winner of the Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes at Morphettville two starts back before winning last time out at Caulfield, 4yo Bivouac mare Cavalry Girl had to overcome a slightly challenging run at Sandown on Saturday before winning the $200,000 G3 MVRC Carlyon Stakes (1000m).
With Craig Williams in the saddle, Cavalry Girl jumped away the race favourite from barrier one where she settled on the rail behind the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Beast Mode who charged to the lead from barrier 2.
As Beast Mode charged into the home bend, Williams was looking to come to the outside of the leader to make his run, but Teo Nugent aboard Bazaball Rewarded had other ideas as he raced up on her outside, pocketing the mare behind the leader.
Passing the 200m mark, Williams darted back towards the inside, squeezing Cavalry Girl through the gap to hit the lead at the 100m mark before going away from her rivals for another stylish victory.
“It’s great, I’m thrilled she’s won at Sandown,” enthused Dabernig. “Provided she pulls up well, we’ll be looking at the Moir. Today was perfect, really.”
“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.
“Once she got through, she won quite comfortably.”
“She’s a very, very good racehorse. She wants to win and she’s got a great desire to win,” said syndicator Joe O’Neill after the win.
“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.”
With seven wins and four placed efforts from 17 starts, the victory of the Tom Dabernig trained mare took her earnings to $521,095 and with connections set to now target the G1 Moir Stakes on September 5, the mare could become the third individual elite level winner for her sire.
Interestingly, the last two winners of the Carlyon Stakes, Baraqiel and Mornington Glory both went on to record success in the Moir Stakes.
Purchased for $110,000 by Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd from the Vinery Stud draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, the Patrick Hodgens and Bill Piper bred Cavalry Girl is the first foal of Islands, a winning half-sister by I Am Invincible to G2 winner and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Military Rose, the granddam of last season’s G1-winning juvenile Campione D’Italia.
The second foal of Islands is the unraced 3yo The Autumn Sun filly Pacifico in the stable of Bjorn Baker who finished fourth in a recent barrier trial while the third foal of the mare is the unraced Russian Revolution filly My Island Girl.
After missing to G1 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo, the mare was covered by Extreme Choice with the resultant foal due this spring.
One of eight stakes winners for the multiple G1 winner Bivouac headed by G1 winners Beiwacht and Fireball Miss, the Darley Kelvinside based son of Exceed And Excel is standing for a fee of $33,000 (inc. GST) this spring.
