Doomben Blackbookers and horses to follow from February 21

Steve Bennett

Editor

Last updated: 23 Feb 2026

Steve Bennett 23 Feb 2026

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These gallopers caught the eye from Saturday's meeting.
Martist dominated on debut, he can only improve.
Celestial Blaze impressed with resilient first-up win.
Zoufani improved second-up, strong potential noted.

Doomben Blackbookers (Getty Images).

Steve Bennett picks out his blackbookers and horses to follow from Saturday racing at Doomben on 21 February.
Who were the eyecatchers, who should you add to your black book for upcoming races and meetings and who do we recommended following in the weeks and months ahead?
Race 1: Two-Year-Old Hcp (1200m) – Martist
Race 3: Class 1 Hcp (1350m) – Celestial Blaze
Race 7: Class 3 Plate (1200m) – Zoufani

Who were the eyecatchers, who should you add to your black book for upcoming races and meetings and who do we recommended following in the weeks and months ahead?

Race 1: Two-Year-Old Hcp (1200m) – Martist

The Tony Gollan-trained galloper was subject to a huge betting plunge seeing the colt go to the gates a white-hot $1.55 elect and ran accordingly, winning on debut with ease in the end.

Ryan Maloney settled him fourth, one off the fence, where he enjoyed the trail to the turn, before taking over inside the final 200m and under hands and heels riding, went on to score comfortably in the end.

A sign of things to come ? Could be, so keep him safe for now.

Race 3: Class 1 Hcp (1350m) – Celestial Blaze

The Robert Heathcote-trained galloper resumed off a 19-week break on Saturday and impressed with a good first-up win in this event.

Doing tough all the way, he drew wide and was caught deep to the turn, before finding a little more in the tank and despite covering more ground than the early explorers, galloped away to score by a length on the line.

Already a winner when second-up, he is even better over further ground so keep an eye on him this campaign.

Race 7: Class 3 Plate (1200m) – Zoufani

The Tony Gollan-trained galloper was second-up on Saturday and showed plenty of improvement when finishing a close-up second in this event.

Cejay Graham settled the mare two pairs back before peeling wide on the turn where she straightened-up five lengths off the leaders and ran home strongly, beaten a head on the line, doing her best work over the final 100m.

Now even fitter for two runs back, the four-year-old can only improve from here and it should pay to keep her in the book for a few more starts.