Darley Wins Carbine Club Stakes With Paximadia

The Darley owned Paximadia led all the way to win the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day.

Rated expertly in front by Kerrin McEvoy, Paximadia ($8-$11-$10) had an easy time of it until the home turn. McEvoy then kicked him a further length or so clear and he had enough in reserve to win by a long neck from warm favourite Hucklebuck ($1.95-$2.05) with a length to third placed Equator ($4.20-$3.90-$4.20).

Paximadia wins the Carbine Club StakesPaximadia wins the Carbine Club Stakes

After winning well over 1410m at Flemington on the 5th of October, Paximadia put in a shocking run at Caulfield in the Gothic Stakes on the 19th, finishing eighth.

Trainer Peter Snowden explained:

Paximadia"We made the blue of letting them cross us the other day and he got shuffled back in the field and he's not the same horse when he's back in the run but today we announced that we wanted to be positive and dictate the race."

"It was good to see the horse bounce back today because I was bitterly disappointed about Caulfield."

"I probably thought the favourite (Hucklebuck) would pressure me a bit more but this fellow has done a good job", McEvoy observed.

"He quickened up nicely and its good to see him improve up to the mile and I would think he can again improve over a little bit further."

While Paximadia was enjoying soft sectionals in the lead, Dom Tourner on Hucklebuck let him get away with it and was left 5 lengths off the winner when he quickened. That poor judgement was the difference between first and second.

The David Hayes trained I Am Titanium worked home well from back in the field and should be competitive in a weaker race. Similarly the Cummings trained maiden Saintly was not disgraced, running sixth only 3 lengths off the winner.

Paximadia was bred by Darley Stud by their stallion Commands from the Fantastic Light mare Lalona.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin & Quentin J Lang