It is the very early days of the 2026 spring carnival, but Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig could have as many as three Group 1 sprinting contenders in the coming months after Shadhavar’s superb on-pace victory in the listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Joe O’Neill of Prime Thoroughbreds said post-race the G1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on final day at Flemington could be Shadhavar’s best chance of racing for a G1 and Dabernig said later the mare could end up in such a race if she continues to improve through the campaign.
“It’s hard to know (if they’ll measure up) but the Pride of Dubai’s get better as they get older,” Dabernig said. “She came here with Adelaide stakes form and now she’s been able to come and do it here.
“It’s a good horse’s race the Regal Roller, I remember we won it with Vega Magic, and he went on to become a G1 horse.”
In 2017, Vega Magic won the Regal Roller before taking the G1 Memsie Stakes and then running second in The Everest.
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Dabernig said another G1 hopeful was likely to race at Sandown next week in the shape of the mare Cavalry Girl in the G3 $200,000 Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Sandown.
“I think we’ll look at the Carlyon and then depending on how she goes, maybe into the Moir (September 5 at Sandown),” Dabernig said.
The third G1 hopeful from Dabernig’s stables will also be seen next week when Wangoom Handicap winner Oliveanotherday trials at Caulfield.
“He’ll go here on the 19th in a trial and then he’ll run here on the 29th (August) in the 1100-metre The Heath.
“He could go on to a race like the (G2) Bobbie Lewis or even a (G1) Manikato.”