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We saw some improving types return to the track at Royal Randwick on Saturday, and lightly raced galloper Crafty Eagle fits that bill.

The John Thompson galloper did it on both ends, winning the Midway Handicap (1200m), where he always faced the breeze in a strong tempo and then sprinted away from his rivals.

Punter's Intelligence recorded that he ran a slick overall time of 1:10.40, approximately 3-3.5 lengths faster than the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).

The gelding kept his mind on the job, and his last few bounds were solid, clocking the race's third-quickest final 200m in 11.81. He has ability and can progress through the grades.

Poseidon Ruler, who is racing in career-best form, had no luck whatsoever.

The five-year-old was checked/blocked for the majority of the straight, but once clear, he surged to the line and went through it full of energy.

He clocked the meeting's second-fastest final 200 sectional in 11.48. Follow him over more ground and in a similar grade.

Moonlight Grace is another runner ready to step up in distance and ran 34.26 for her final 600m.

Iowna Merc lived up to his impressive trials with a strong first-up win in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) and produced a career peak figure.

The Bjorn Baker galloper travelled in the inferior ground but showed a sharp turn of foot and pulled away from his rivals over the final furlong running one of the fastest final 200m splits of the day in 11.67.

The gelding operation could be the making of him, and expect him to only improve off this effort.

Soami was the flashing light run, and he clocked an identical final 200 to Iowna Merc.

Never Second has been a victim of wide draws this campaign, and she got too far back in the run.

The mare recorded the race's quickest 600m-200m split in 21.97 and peaked on her run after exerting all that energy. She can improve with a much more positive race setup.

Tannhauser settled at the rear of the field and wasn't suited to the slow tempo but showed a powerful finish to run over the top of his rivals late in the two-year-old handicap (1400m).

He was 49 days between runs but savaged the line and clocked 22.88 for his final 400m. The Snowden galloper can only step off that performance; extra distance is ideal.

It's worth noting some other sectional performers on the day.

Contemporary is in career-best form racing on dry surfaces, and his run had sectional merit in the Benchmark 72 (1200m). He hit the line hard, running the meeting quickest final 200m in 11.46.

Union Army comes through the same race and arguably should've won. He was blocked for most of the straight, and even with all that interference, he still clocked one of the day's quickest 400m-200m splits in 10.90.

Through The Cracks produced the meeting fastest final 600m in 33.41 in the 1100m Handicap. He is a second-up specialist and excels over further distances.

Fasetst last 600m: Through The Cracks 33.41.

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