Saturday Blackbookers & Horses To Follow from February 17

Race 3 - Reasonable Point (second): She could be a VRC Sires' horse, with that Group 2 contested over 1400m here in three weeks time, although it's still early days for the filly.

Sent out at $15 despite showing promise in her lead-up work, Reasonable Point knuckled on jumping here and after settling at the rear early, she had plenty of work to do.

The daughter of Blue Point got stronger as this 1100m dash wore on, recording easily the fastest last 200m of the race and the winner (Aardvark) did place in a handy affair on debut last spring.

Race 5 - Eternal Flame (fifth): While they might've missed their chance here third-up in a very winnable Group 3, Eternal Flame still has improvement to come as a lightly raced mare.

After a fair return at Listed level over 1200m, a trip which was a tad too sharp at stakes grade, she bounced back at Caulfield in style when winning by four lengths despite a wide run.

Eternal Flame was held-up for much of the run home and although she was seemingly a good thing beaten, a race such as the Matron Stakes in three weeks gives her a chance to atone.

Race 10 - Arran Bay (sixth): There was a change of tactics first-up with Arran Bay, with connections opting for a colder ride fresh and without favours, he's performed well on return.

He did his fair share of chasing from back in the field and while many of his rivals who finished around him enjoyed softer runs in transit, this gelding was wide and without cover.

Arran Bay has gone as well as anything behind the winner and that's with no winning fresh form, however, he has terrific second-up stats and there's two BM84 options here in a fortnight.

Race 3 - Infinitive (fourth): Ultimately, she was just a run short here second-up, but the Chris Waller-trained mare has a nice platform now, with two runs completed following a long break.

Infinitive was unsuited first-up, yet found the line strongly and it wasn't a dissimilar scenario here, where she was doing her best work late to just miss out on third.

They've got plenty of room to move with a rating of only 71, although she's well and truly up to this benchmark, while getting over a little more ground will be the key third-up.

Race 5 - French Bonnet (fifth): Despite having no winning first-up form and having resumed here following a short and failed autumn prep last year, she was still specked at a big price.

That late market move came off the back of two strong trial wins and while French Bonnet struggled when the sprint went on, she did find a second wind late in the piece.

Her last five victories have come in the 1400m-1600m range, so she should only improve from this fresh run, while her second-up stats are strong, so respect her next time.

Race 6 - Makarena (second): The race fitness of Caballus (winner )proved the difference, however, Makarena safely held off the rest of the boys and that was following a quiet ride.

This lightly raced filly showed tactical speed when recording back-to-back triumphs at starts two and three over her first prep, which culminated in a 1400m success at Rosehill.

She was produced off three-week (or thereabouts) patterns when winning over spring, so a similar set-up going into the Group 1 Surround Stakes on March 2 looks ideal against the fillies.