Cummings’ Strong Hand in Carbine Club Stakes with Kudakulari

The Cups King Bart Cummings has a strong contingent of runners over the AJC Derby Day races at Randwick tomorrow, including his in-form Savabeel three-year-old Kudakulari in the $125,000 Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).

Drawn well in barrier four for the 2011 Carbine Club Stakes and due to be ridden by Corey Brown, progressive gelding Kudakulari is one of the top fancies in the markets at a firming quote of $4.60.

After failing to impress last season including their horror dead last finish in the Victoria Derby, Kudakulari resumed with a much improved run at Canberra winning the Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m) on March 13.

In the Guineas Kudakulari carried a hefty 58kg to victory and proved that having been gelded and with winkers back on, Cummings may have found the winning solution with the three-year-old.

“The gelding operation definitely has helped him, but on top of the ground is where he can fire,” Bart Cummings’ grandson James said.

Having ‘appreciated’ having the snip, Kudakulari is also set to appreciate the roomy Randwick track tomorrow.

“I think you will see a good preparation from this horse,” said James Cummings.

Chief racing bookmaker at Luxbet, Paul Vincent is also getting behind race favourite Needs Further and has them tipped as the ‘Best Value’ bet for the AJC Derby Day meet tomorrow.

“Needs Further is well suited up to the mile without much pace in the race Nash (Rawiller) can control the tempo,” Vincent told Races.com.au.

Despite a wider barrier 10 draw, Needs Further remains the $4 favourite for the Carbine Club Stakes having drifted out from their opening price of $3.30.

Other top chances in the Carbine Club Stakes tomorrow include Peter Snowden’s Kewney Stakes placegetter Divorces ($4.60) and the Lee Freedman-trained Lonhro gelding The Ruffian ($9).

The 2011 Jim Beam Carbine Club Stakes is scheduled to jump at 12:30pm (AEST) as Randwick Race 2 as a lead-up to the day’s feature three-year-olds’ showdown, the 150^th AJC Australian Derby at 3:40pm (AEST).