Arabian Summer is set to make her return to Victorian racing in Saturday’s Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
The three-year-old was last seen in the state when winning the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic (1000m) in December 2023.
Her most recent campaign in Queensland featured a dominant first-up victory over 1000 metres at the Gold Coast on December 20, followed by a strong third behind Private Harry in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate (1100m) at the Sunshine Coast on January 4.
“She went to another level up there, finishing alongside a Golden Slipper winner (Lady Of Camelot) at set weights and didn’t have a great run in transit,” trainer Tony McEvoy, who prepares the filly in partnership with Calvin McEvoy, told Racing.com.
“She ran fabulously.”
As part of her lead-up to Saturday’s race, Arabian Summer contested a barrier trial at Geelong last week, finishing second to weight-for-age star Mr Brightside.
“She’s going really well,” McEvoy added. “She trialled up beautifully. We weren’t planning to give her a trial but she had just done so well in the stable.
“If she runs how I expect (on Saturday), we might look at an Oakleigh Plate for her – she’d have to be impressive at set weights against her own sex on Saturday.”
Arabian Summer has drawn barrier eight of 13 for the Peter Le Grand Stakes and will be ridden by Harry Coffey and is a $3.60 favourite with horse racing betting sites.
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