Flemington Blackbookers June 6 – Horses to Follow From Flemington on June 6

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

Aethera looks to have plenty of upside after an impressive debut victory in the opener. The Danny O'Brien-trained filly was held up for clear running from the 400m before shifting out approaching the 200m and, once into the clear, quickly put the race away. She recorded the fastest last 200m of the race and the fifth-fastest final 200m of the entire meeting, suggesting there was plenty left in the tank.

O'Brien has always had a good opinion of the daughter of the former Cox Plate winner, Shamus Award, and she certainly showed a touch of class here, winning by two lengths despite not enjoying the smoothest passage. She looks capable of measuring up in better company as her preparation unfolds.

Race 2 went the way of Nation's Call, who enjoyed a comfortable run on speed in a race that developed into a sit-and-sprint. The lack of tempo through the early and middle stages made it difficult for those settling near the rear to make significant ground.

Momentz entered the race off a promising second-up effort at Sandown but had to settle for seventh in a blanket finish, with only two lengths covering the first eight runners home. The Moody/Coleman galloper drew the outside gate in the 13-horse field and was forced to settle last before working home strongly late.

Importantly, it was his first run at a mile this preparation and he generally improves as he gets deeper into a campaign. Last time in, he won twice at the distance before placing in a BM84 at his next start. This looked better than it reads on paper and he should be ready to win again over his next couple of outings.

There was plenty to like about the return of Stylish in Race 5. The Hayes-trained mare was resuming from a short spring campaign in which she placed twice in this grade and produced another competitive performance despite a few things not going her way.

She began awkwardly and raced keenly through the middle stages, which was less than ideal first-up, yet still found the line strongly to finish second. Duchess Zou had the advantage of race fitness and enjoyed a favourable run closer to the speed, proving too strong late, but Stylish continued to close the margin over the final stages and comfortably held the rest of the field.

Given the way she worked through the line and the improvement she is likely to take from the run, she looks well placed to build on this effort and should be winning a race similar to this before long.

I didn't mind the performance from Markdel in the final race of the day. The Cranbourne-based galloper settled towards the rear of the 11-horse field before making an early move from the 600m and quickly putting a gap on the majority of his rivals.

Only Moby Dick was able to go with him, eventually proving too strong late, but Markdel still finished comfortably clear of the rest of the field. The margin was over a length at the finish, although he had put more than two lengths on the remainder of the opposition.

The son of Snitzel simply ran out of petrol tickets in the final stages after a searching run and should derive good fitness benefit from the performance. Since joining his new stable from the Freedman camp he has won three of four starts, all over 1200m, and looks capable of being a factor in similar grade or even something slightly easier at his next few runs. It will be interesting to see what the stable does from here, as he generally has his runs spaced, but I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him back in action sooner rather than later.