Caulfield Blackbookers August 15 – Horses to Follow from PB Lawrence Stakes Day

Here are our blackbookers and horses to follow from the action.

Race 1 went the way of Fundamental Nature, with less than two lengths separating the first seven across the line, and Savoyard is one to keep in mind when he steps out in similar company. The Cliff Brown-trained galloper was resuming after a two-start summer campaign that produced a maiden victory and a runner-up finish in Class 3 company. He settled towards the rear of the 12-horse field off a moderate tempo and was held up for a short distance rounding the home turn before working into the clear. Savoyard then charged through the line, producing the fastest final 200m of the entire meeting despite finishing seventh. With that run under his belt and better luck in running, he looks capable of improving sharply next start.

Natural Fling stamped herself as an exciting spring prospect with a dominant first-up victory in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly controlled her speed beautifully under Damian Lane before putting a quality field away by four lengths, stopping the clock at 1:03.91 – almost half a second quicker than the Group 3 Vain Stakes over the same course and distance one race earlier. It was only the third start of her career after winning on debut at Caulfield and finishing runner-up in the Magic Millions 2YO National, and she looks to have returned a more mature filly this preparation. The stable now has several options, including the Group 1 Moir Stakes and ultimately the Coolmore Stud Stakes, and Natural Fling looks capable of measuring up as the company gets stronger.

Cosmic Crusader continued his outstanding start to the preparation with an emphatic victory in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes and looks ready to make his presence felt at Group 1 level. Coming off his first-up Bletchingly Stakes win, the Andrea Leek-trained galloper settled midfield under William Pike before being eased into the clear and unleashing a powerful sprint to run down last year's winner Private Eye. Cosmic Crusader had three-quarters of a length to spare on the line and Pike suggested the horse effectively took him into the race once he found clear air. He is now two-from-two this campaign and heads towards the Group 1 Memsie Stakes over the same 1400m course and distance in a fortnight, with connections also eyeing the major weight-for-age races and ultimately the Cox Plate. He looks to have returned better than ever and can continue to progress deeper into the spring.

The Listed Regal Roller Stakes assembled a strong field of sprinters and, while Shadhavar took the honours, Persian Spirit and Warnie both produced encouraging first-up performances with improvement to come. Persian Spirit settled handy and went desperately close in second, producing a strong return considering his best form has come over 1400m, including a second-up victory at that trip late last year. Warnie was another doing his best work late with the fastest last 200m, finishing fourth first-up over a distance short of his optimum. The 1400m should bring him right into his comfort zone given he won at Group 2 level over that trip during last year's Flemington carnival before taking out the Supernova at Pakenham. Both should strip fitter second-up and are worth following when they step up in distance.