The $200,000 Group III MRC How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday was won by talented Blue Point (IRE) mare Point Barrow, a $400,000 Magic Millions purchase from Yarraman Park.

Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Point Barrow was second up from a spell and primed for a good showing.

Dropping back from contesting G1 sprints at her last two starts, the Mark Zahra ridden mare jumped away well from the gates and in her usual racing style, sat back in the field as the short-priced Bridal Waltz went forward to take up the running on the rail.

She pounced late to score by half a length.

Co-trainer Sam Freedman was pleased to see the mare return to winning form.

“A very good win,” enthused Freedman. “She was a good run in the Moir, I think it was a sneaky run. She didn’t like the ground, the wheels spun a bit, but she’s a real fast ground filly.

“I was getting a little worried how the track was starting to play through the day… she’s a proper mare, she’s got her day in the sun at some stage at the top level. We’ve had a couple of cracks, we’ll have another go, probably on the last day, that sprint (at Flemington) that’s been the plan the whole way through.”

Asked if she could back up in the G1 Manikato Stakes, Freedman said it was unlikely, but never say never.

“Never say never but she puts a lot into her races, she’s a very genuine mare, I think she’s better spacing her runs a little bit now,” he added.

“I still think that sprint on the last day (Flemington) , down the straight, if you can sort of just be close enough when they really let down, she could be a player there on fresh legs while everyone else chases Everests.”

Point Barrow has the overall record of six wins from 11 starts with prizemoney topping $700,000.

Bred by Yarraman Park in partnership with Robert and Barbara McClure of Morning Rise Stud, Point Barrow runs for an ownership group that includes the McClures along with Halo Racing Services (the late Colin McKenna) and Ridgmont.

She is the second foal and second winner from Group III winning Reward for Effort mare Take Pride, who was bought from the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2017 for $550,000 by James Bester Bloodstock and comes from the family of Caulfield Cup winner Mummify.

Take Pride has a yearling colt by Hellbent, but will have no foal this spring after missing last year.