The Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable is prepared to take a chance in a Group 1 race against older sprinters when Natural Fling competes at Sandown.

It is uncommon to see a three-year-old, particularly a filly, taking on seasoned sprinters in a 1000-metre weight-for-age event.

However, this is the path Natural Fling is set to follow in the Group 1 Moir Stakes on Saturday.

Typically conducted at Moonee Valley, this year’s Moir Stakes is being held at Sandown while the Moonee Valley circuit undergoes renovations.

Natural Fling has won two of her three starts and is coming off a spell, having registered a commanding four-length victory in the Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15.

This performance prompted consideration for the Moir Stakes, with Jamie Melham undertaking a fitness regime to ride the filly at the 50kg weight on Saturday.

After observing Natural Fling’s work at Sandown on Tuesday morning, Tony McEvoy expressed his confidence in heading to the Moir Stakes.

“We’ve rated her highly right from the first time we put a saddle on her,” McEvoy said.

“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.”

McEvoy has significant experience with young fillies from his time at Lindsay Park before establishing his own stable.

He considers Natural Fling to be as good as any he has encountered, including Sunlight, whom McEvoy trained to win 11 races from 24 starts, including the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the Coolmore Stud Stakes, and the William Reid Stakes.

“She’s very good, she’s very fast,” McEvoy commented.

“We’ve probably still got to find where she is, class wise yet.

“I trained a very good filly called Sunlight, and this filly is matching what she could do.”

While not a decisive race, Saturday’s outing is expected to shape the future direction for Natural Fling.

“It will help determine whether we go back to three-year-old grade or do we go to the (Group 1) Manikato,” McEvoy explained.

“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.”

Natural Fling had a gallop at Sandown on Tuesday with Melham in the saddle, and McEvoy stated it was beneficial to give the filly a look at the course she will race on Saturday.

“She was fresh, she was stimulated by being here and wanted to get going a bit earlier than we wanted in the gallop, but once she got into a nice rhythm from the 600 (metres) she quickened up nicely,” McEvoy said.

“She was very professional for a lightly raced filly, right out wide on the track. It didn’t faze her at all, and Jamie said she felt fantastic.

“I think she is where she needs to be.”

Meanwhile, Steven Arnold partnered Generosity in a familiarisation run over the Moir course.

The Chris Waller-trained mare is set to make her first appearance at this track.

Arnold took Generosity up the 1000m chute to give the mare a look at the track where she will be racing on Saturday.

“She’s fit, she’s had a trip away, she looks in beautiful condition,” Arnold stated.

“She did a bit of evens, quickened up the last 400 metres and she pulled up really clean in the wind and she’s ready to go for the 1000 metres.

“It’s a hot race, but she has good form over 1000 metres. She beat Giga Kick up in Sydney at the trip, so her form is good and she is worthy of taking her place.”

Check out the latest sports betting options for the Moir Stakes at Australian betting sites.