Natural Fling will enter the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on Saturday as a flyweight, carrying just 50kg as she bids to beat hardened rivals at just her fourth race start.
She Will Reign and Coolangatta won the Moir as three-year-old fillies in 2017 and 2022, however, they were meeting the challenge at their sixth starts.
But co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said the lure of the $750,000 event was too great to ignore after her dynamite win in the Quezette Stakes three weeks ago.
“When she won in the fashion she did and returned the ratings she did, the opportunity presented itself for a well-bred filly to have a crack at a Group 1,” McEvoy said.
“You’ve got to take those opportunities, and I think she’ll acquit herself well.”
It could offer redemption for Calvin and father Tony after hitting the 2018 Manikato Stakes with Sunlight.
“We ran Sunlight in the Manikato and she was much more experienced than this filly but she got knocked from pillar to post and never got a crack at them,” McEvoy said.
“That is a risk of course when you’ve got inexperienced younger horses taking on the bigger, stronger ones.
“If they make a mistake, it can happen.”
Sunlight went on to take the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at her next outing, the grand target for Natural Fling also.
“Her main aim is the Coolmore,” McEvoy said.
“What we do after Saturday is either go back to three-year-old grade and run her in the Danehill down the straight against the boys or, if she happened to get the result on Saturday, that opens up the Manikato.”
Jamie Melham, who rode the daughter of Home Affairs in a $1 million Gold Cast event in May, will return to the saddle this weekend.
Damian Lane had partnered the filly last start, but Melham rode her in trackwork this week.
“She rode her in Queensland, but she mentioned she’s strengthened up a lot since then,” McEvoy said.
“I thought the work was sharp, she pulled up lovely and clear and is ready to go on Saturday.”
She’s the $3.20 favourite, while former WA mare Generosity ($17) is anticipated by trainer Chris Waller to run a “cheeky race”.
“She had a look at the track Tuesday morning and breezed up nicely,” Waller said.
“She runs well fresh. 1000m is no problem. Draw’s OK, in the middle – the favourite’s drawn 13.
“She deserves her chance in a G1 like this. She had no luck in The Galaxy, was beaten (not far) and she’s a G2 winner.”