Caulfield Blackbookers March 21 – Horses to follow from William Reid Stakes Day

The meeting brought together elite sprinters, progressive three-year-olds and proven Group performers, producing several standout runs that are worth following in the coming weeks.

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

The Alexandra Stakes brought together a number of familiar faces from the VRC Oaks (2500m), including the Oaks winner Strictly Business (5th) and Getta Good Feeling, who took out this race after failing to see out the 2500m in the spring.

Classic Gem, who finished 4th in the Oaks, resumed here in what was her first run of the preparation and produced a performance full of merit. The Dom Sutton-trained filly began awkwardly and lost two lengths before being steadied near the 1400m when tightened for room, yet was still able to balance up and produce the fastest late splits and sectionals of the race.

Remarkably still a maiden after seven starts, she may well be the best maiden in Australia, pushing or even surpassing Federalist for that mantle. With even luck, she looks well placed to break through quickly and measure up in stronger company.

This race for the three-year-old fillies was taken out impressively by Point Barrow, who stamped herself as a filly on the rise. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained galloper was coming off a run in the Oakleigh Plate where she over-raced when settling back, but the figures out of that race rated through the roof and made this result far less surprising in hindsight.

She showed sharp improvement second-up here and looks a filly that will continue to build as the campaign progresses, much like she did in her previous preparation. With only two runs under her belt this time in, there is strong upside still to come and a Group 1 target such as the Sangster Stakes looks a logical progression.

Treasurethe Moment looks like she might be back to her best following her victory in the Sunline Stakes. The Matt Laurie-trained mare, who was the 3rd placegetter from the Cox Plate (2040m) in 2025, relished getting back to the mile and produced a performance that suggests she is ready to peak this preparation.

Her best form appears to be at 1600m and if she heads toward the Queen Of The Turf Stakes rather than the Doncaster Mile, as connections have indicated, she would be very hard to beat in that race.

Jigsaw claimed the feature race of the day, the William Reid Stakes, but it was another frustrating Group 1 near miss for Angel Capital, who finished runner-up after an interrupted run.

The four-year-old came under pressure from the 500m and was forced to race in restricted room between runners from the 400m before being crossed near the 250m. The Chris Waller galloper then had to shift around heels to obtain clear running, where he charged home to produce the fastest last 200m of the race.

He was also luckless in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at his start prior when blocked at a crucial stage, and continues to perform at Group 1 level without breaking through. With options like the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and potentially the All Aged Stakes ahead, he profiles as a major player wherever he turns up next