Doomben Blackbookers and horses to follow from August 15

The Kelly Schweida-trained galloper is four starts into his racing career and has done everything but win.

On Saturday, he drew the fence but couldn’t go the early speed and settled mid-field to the turn, then came off heels and after being held-up, finally got clear and hit the line strongly, arriving in time to claim his third-straight runner-up prize.

He looks an honest type and is a promising colt who will win one soon enough but he could be looking for just a little further now.

The Pluck gelding resumed off a lengthy 10-month break and caught the eye when finishing third in this event on Saturday.

The seven-year-old settled back in the field to the turn and on straightening, only had one behind him, and while no chance of winning, still hit the line strongly to grab the minor prize, taking lengths off the winner over the closing stages.

He is already a two-time winner when second-up so keep your eye out for him next start.

The Tony Gollan-trained mare was fresh after five months off the scene and did well to finish on the podium in this race.

Having no luck early, she was trapped three-wide for the first half of the race before tracking wide on the turn and while no match for the in-form race-favourite (Grinzinger Champ, who made it three-straight), she still ran home solidly to grab third prize, beaten just over two lengths in the end.

The mare has a strong second-up record and looks well worth following during this current preparation.