Doomben Blackbookers and horses to follow from May 23

Steve Bennett

Editor

Last updated: 25 May 2026

Steve Bennett 25 May 2026

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These horses stood out from Saturday's meeting.
Arabian Rose won impressively after a long break.
Foreign Press finished a close second; looks set for more success.
Cifrado stormed home for 2nd in Group 3 company; strong third-up credentials.

Doomben Blackbookers (Getty Images)

Steve Bennett picks out his blackbookers and horses to follow from Saturday racing at Doomben on 23 May.
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 2: Class 6 Hcp (1200m) – Arabian Rose
Race 4: Three-Year-Old Hcp (1110m) – Foreign Press
Race 9: BRC Sprint (Group 3) (1350m) – Cifrado

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 2: Class 6 Hcp (1200m) – Arabian Rose

The James Healy-trained mare resumed off a 14-week spell on Saturday and turned plenty of heads with her whirlwind finish to grab victory in this event.

From the outside gate (12), she settled worse than mid-field, then tracked them into the home straight and scouting even wider, the four-year-old stormed home to pass all ahead of her and go on to score by 1.5 lengths with plenty to spare over the line.

On fresh legs she covered the 1200m in 1:09.3 and already a two-time winner when second-up, keep an eye out for her next race start.

Race 4: Three-Year-Old Hcp (1110m) – Foreign Press

Resuming off a 19-week absence on Saturday, the Tony Gollan-trained filly beat all but a more seasoned Earn To Burn home in this race.

Settling two pairs back, she trailed the leaders into the home straight before Cejay Graham secured a rails run and after grabbing the lead inside the final 100m, was just edged out of first prize by a fitter runner on the line.

Proving to be a progressive type with eight podium finishes from her ten career starts to date, the three-year-old is already a winner when second-up and looks well on the way to more success in this campaign.

Race 9: BRC Sprint (Group 3) (1350m) – Cifrado

Renowned for his strong fresh efforts, the Rex Lipp-trained gelding was second-up on Saturday and caught the eye with a big finish in this event.

He jumped from gate 13 (of 16) and on the turn, he was the widest runner and eight lengths off the leader when they straightened, then stormed home to beat all but Abounding, beaten a lip on the line.

The two-time Group 2 winner is also a two-time third-up winner as well so keep him safe for now.