Cameron Happ's black bookers for Cranbourne Cup Day

Declan Bates wins the Cranbourne Cup on Charterhouse, adding to his November haul of big wins. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

With only a week or two left of a long carnival, some fresh horses appeared which are worth following into the summer months.

The track played amazing and offered no excuse for any runner so long as they handled the slightly soft conditions. When tempo allowed, we had winners up and in along the rails in Taunting, Motorace and Pink Beau Ty, but when the speed went on, the likes of Charterhouse, Foujita San and Extremely Rowdy were able to charge home out wide from the back. 

The run of tough Saturday cards continued with punters having to wait all day to finally get a favourite home with Jimmystar. It was tough going early with a number of short priced favourites getting rolled and it wasn't much better in the quaddie with Foujita San the first leg winner at $21 and Charterhouse taking out the cup at $16 for a dividend of $4,738.10.

BLACK BOOKERS 

SENTIMENTAL FLAME. Huge run from this South Australian filly having her first run over the longer trip at just her fifth career start. Slightly slow into stride, she then got a check to be spat out the back and that was likely the difference between winning and losing as she's been a horse that usually takes up a handy position. Beau Mertens gave her an amazing steer from the 600m to get to the outside on the home turn and she's launched to get within half a length. She may have a break but looks a likely Adelaide Oaks type.

SPANISH TIDES. She may be getting a bit older now as a seven-year-old mare, but she looks to have returned in good shape and of late she rarely doesn't pick up a race each prep. Slow out to be back last off a pair of classy types up front, Jamie Mott rode her cold before improving along the rails towards the home turn. She couldn't sprint with the winner but did maintain her run to the line to fill a place first-up for the first time in her life. With a record of 4:3-0-0 second-up, she can be well-placed over a mile next start.

FREE WILLED. This lightly raced mare from the Cindy Alderson stable looks a lock to pick up a couple of races this time in. She was super in her first prep, never finishing further back than fourth as she went through the grades, and it was only race fitness that cost her in a strong race on Saturday. Given a perfect run by Blaike McDougall, she was off the leaders back on the home turn and was right in it until peaking inside the 100m. Improved for the run, she's tough to beat over 1400-1600m over the summer.

GLENTANEOUS. While he's yet to win a race on Australian shores, this imported stayer looks to change all that after three good runs this time in. Stepping out to the 2025m, he was given a soft run by Declan Bates from the good gate before easing to the outside on the home turn. Strong to the line to only go down in the last few strides and looking to have made the improvement a lot of imports do into their second local prep, he's eligible for easier races and should win soon.

FOXY CLEOPATRA. Not sure how long the Trent Busuttin and Natalie young stable will press on with this mare over the summer but a race like the Ballarat Cup over 2000m in two weeks does look an achievable target. Only second-up after a year-long spell, she came under heavy pressure on the home turn with Craig Williams the first to go for the whip, but she responded like a real staying type to beat all but the super fit winner. With so much upside and needing longer, she's ready to win.

MOVEFORLEX. Loved the return of this lightly raced stayer from the Patrick Payne stable and we need to be with him as he goes towards some staying features over the summer. Racing fresh, he sat right on pace in second spot all the way to the home turn and despite not being able to match the turn of foot of the promising winner, he maintained his run to only just miss the placings. He'll only keep improving as he gets out to 2000m and beyond but looks a fill-up for us going forward.

FORGIVE AND LUCKLESS RUNNERS 

BOMBASTIC BOY. Luckless in a strong race. Shuffled back to beyond midfield on the home turn, he only saw daylight well inside the 100m and made late ground.

FIRE GLO TOO. You could argue this gelding should have fought out the finish after being held up from as far out as the 500m all the way to the 100m to only be beaten just under two lengths.

HE'S HANDSOME. Getting a perfect run for Luke Nolen until running out of room from the 500-200m as the winner kicked for home. Only fully balancing up at the 100m, he should have run a clear second.

TASMAN PARK. Keen early off an awkward start, he then tried to go for the same run as He's Handsome in the straight. 

MARGIE'S BOY. Ridden cold from the wide gate, he was improving along the rails before running out of room over the last 100m going untested.

TWIN PERFECTION. A horse that's better up dominating in front, he was gone early when slow into stride. He was making ground in the straight when held up and untested over the last 100m.

FORGET RUNNERS

GENERATION. I've possibly already mentioned this horse but having fallen into him yesterday, I'm dropping him permanently now after having every possible chance on Saturday.

GREGOLIMO. He's probably going to win his races down the track but he's certainly not a betting proposition after not attacking the line on Saturday when he found the front.