Saturday Preview: The young gun Natural Fling takes on the older stars in 'The Moir'

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Natural Fling takes aim at ‘The Moir’

The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Natural Fling (Home Affairs) is looking to add her name to the list of 3-year-olds to win the G1 Moir Stakes after Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) and Extreme Choice have all tasted success in the race over the last decade.

The Home Affairs filly, purchased by her trainers alongside Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $550,000 from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, has impressed from day one.

"We've rated her highly right from the first time we put a saddle on her," Tony McEvoy told Racingandsports earlier in the week.

"I don't think we would be going to this race if she hadn't already got the 'black type' under the belt, but now that she has, and the market is saying it, it's not a silly thing to do.

"She's fast and clearly she has to step up to those big boys, and it will be a big test for her, but I'm excited about it.

"With 50 kilos and to be able to have a Jamie Melham to ride at 50, is very comforting."

Asked where she sits in comparison to other fillies he has trained.

"We've probably still got to find where she is, class wise yet,” McEvoy said.

"I trained a very good filly called Sunlight, and this filly is matching what she could do. This result will help determine whether we go back to 3-year-old grade or do we go to the (Group 1) Manikato.

"The Coolmore is the race that we have got targeted for her and now that we're stepping up to the older bracket, if she could win a Moir, she would run in the Manikato."

It looks a very competitive field for Natural Fling to take on. The old veteran Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) has to be respected, Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) comes into the race in fantastic form, while it would be no surprise to see Generosity (Divine Prophet) feature first-up as she chases her first Group 1 victory.

Pembrey chases another Group triumph

The Kia Ora Stud-bred and raced Pembrey (Prague) has already enjoyed success in the G3 Magic Night Stakes as a 2-year-old and in the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes when resuming as a 3-year-old last month.

She now aims for more Group 2 glory in the Furious Stakes, a victory that could even propel her into contention for a G1 The Everest slot later in the spring.

Trainer Tony Gollan is more focused on winning age-group races at the moment but admits there are plenty of options, including The Everest, which winning jockey James McDonald mentioned last time out.

“The main aim when she came down was to get through runs one and two then look at what the rest of the spring looks like,’’ Gollan told RacingNSW.

“One hot day doesn’t make a summer. Ideally you’d like your horse from first-up to second-up to find that bit of improvement and that’s what we felt she had in her.

“The longer the spring goes the harder the races get. She’s got to keep improving and rising to the standard.

“She started off well but it’ll mean nothing if she hasn’t at least stayed the same or got that bit better.”

Gollan has been pleased with how his filly has continued to progress in Sydney.

“She was well settled in going into it the other day and she’s come through the run really well.

“We have a couple of newcomers in the field which might change the dynamic of the race a touch. Our job is for her to go out and run that well again or a bit better.

“She’s such a relaxed filly, we could literally do anything with her. She can go quick, relax and quicken again as she did the other day. She’s got attributes of a good sprinter, it’s a matter of how that holds up into the second run.”

A big watch will be on the $5,600,000 Inglis Chairman’s Sale purchase Chayan (I Am Invincible), who makes her first start for her new connections after being purchased by Tom Magnier.

Chilly Girl (trapeze Artist) attempts to remain unbeaten, while Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) could be the roughie if Kerrin McEvoy can weave some magic from a wide draw.

Can Well Written stay unbeaten?

All eyes will be on Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the G1 Proisir Plate at Ellerslie on Saturday, the first Group One race of the new season in New Zealand, as she takes on 15 high-class opponents over 1400 metres.

The classy daughter of Written Tycoon raised the bar with each start last season, picking up six victories from six starts, including the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, R. Listed NZB Kiwi, R. Listed Karaka Millions 3YO, G2 Soliloquy Stakes and the G2 Auckland Guineas.

While the pressure is on and the now 4-year-old mare has to take on Weight-for-age level for the first time, the Stephen Marsh-trained filly is a very warm favourite for the G1 Proisir Plate.

“There is pressure around it,” Well Written's jockey Matt Cartwright told Loveracing.co.nz.

“There is expectation for her to win but I am very confident in how she is going.

“She feels much stronger, I feel like she has matured a bit more as a horse mentally and physically as well, which is a great sign,” Cartwright said.

“I think she has improved from her last prep. I can’t fault her in her work, she has been working up well.

“She has to take the next step into weight-for-age level, it is a big step for a 3-year-old filly, but she has got very good quality about her and I think she can take that step.

“I am expecting what everyone else is expecting, she is going to be a great winning chance on Saturday.”

It is not going to be easy for Well Written. If the speedy Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) can stretch her brilliance to 1400 metres, she looks a great chance of taking out her first Group 1 race.

The dual Group 1-winner First Five (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) gets to his favoured 1400 metre distance, although Wiremu Pinn will have to weave some magic from a wide draw.

Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) developed into a true Weight-for-age performer last season, while the best blow-out chance is She’s A Dealer (Ace High). While she is no doubt going to be better over a little further, she does not deserve to be the odds she is and it would be no surprise to see her flashing late.

Headwall returns a year later

It was roughly a year ago that Matthew Smith’s star sprinter Headwall (Dream Ahead {USA}) went down with an injury not long after his win in the G2 Concorde Stakes, just as he looked destined for a G1 The Everest spot.

Fast-forward a year and he lines up in the race again, recovered from his injury, looking to defend his title and perhaps put out a statement that he deserves a spot in the 2026 edition of the G1 The Everest Stakes.

Naturally, it is a big ask after such an enforced break, but Smith has given the son of Dream Ahead (USA) a nice, gradual build-up to fitness and has trialled twice at Rosehill in preparation.

“It’s better than having a rushed preparation, I’d rather take my time and let him tick over and gradually get him fit,’’ Smith told RacingNSW.

“He should be somewhere thereabouts, based on last year’s race and his form prior to that.

“I don’t see why he won’t run well. I don’t have any massive expectations, I’m not going there thinking he’s just going to win or anything like that I just think he will run very well.

When asked about his thoughts a year ago, after the injury was diagnosed, Smith said:

“I didn’t think about (whether he’d run his last race). I just gave him the time and hoped he would be right."

“Every day when you watch them gallop you’re worried about something happening. You’re waiting for the phone call, but that’s every horse. It’s just the better ones you’re more focused on.

“He’s such a promising horse so it’s tough when it happens, hopefully he can stay sound with a bit of luck and show us what he can do.

“He’s a Group 1 horse and we want to knock one over. He’ll go to the Shorts after this and then we’ll know where we are going.”

It’s not going to be easy for the talented gelding to return in winning fashion. Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) hasn’t lost since running second to Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in last year’s G1 The Everest, picking up wins at Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 level during the autumn.

Marhoona (Snitzel) was a Group 1 winner during the autumn, while Roselyn’s Star (Shalaa {Ire}) could be the knock-out hope for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.

Blind Raise eyes the Guineas path

Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have big Group 1 plans ahead for their Ace High 3-year-old gelding Blind Raise (NZ), who is closely related to Storm Boy.

But first of all he will show what he is made of in a fresh state in the Listed McKenzie Stakes over 1300 metres at Sandown.

The G1 Caulfield Guineas over a mile on October 10 and the G1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000 metres at Randwick two weeks later are potential options for the exciting colt, who was a Listed winner over 1400 metres as a 2-year-old.

"He's forward enough to run well," Busuttin told Racingandsports

"If this race was 1200 metres, we'd be waiting for the Mike Moroney (1400m at Flemington on Saturday week), so the way it has fallen, 1300 metres at Sandown, it's perfect first-up.

"He'll be strong late.

"The Caulfield Guineas, then the Spring Champion Stakes, that might be a nice race for him, but in a perfect world, he will end up in the Caulfield Guineas, but this is a good starting point over 1300 metres."

Blind Raise was last seen running ninth in the G2 Sires' Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm, but Busuttin said that was a forget run.

"He pulled up full of mucus up there. It was too bad to be true, so we didn't push on and he had a month off up there.

"If they're running in Queensland, they can only have two or three weeks off, but it appears to help them being up there.

It is a tidy line up of talented 3-year-olds with the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Closer To Free (Street Boss {USA}), the exciting Wolf Gap (Palace Pier {GB}) and the proven Tornado Valley (Too darn Hot {GB}) looking the testing material, with the maidener Put To The Sword (NZ) (Sword Of State) a great rough place chance or upset hope.