A drop back in class and a better racing surface saw Acatour back in the winner’s stall in the Group 3 $200,000 Chine Horse Club Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’ today.

Acatour, above, appreciated a better racing surface to win the Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Acatour was coming off a last start eighth on a heavy 10 behind Inference in the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 4 and co-trainer Paul Snowden said back on a better surface was what was needed to see him do his best.

“Getting him back to little bit of firmer footing,” Paul Snowden said.

“His work at home has been second to none, he is going just as good as he ever has at home, but he was really getting bogged down in those heavy 10 tracks.”

“Obviously this improving surface today he has come through it with flying colours.”

“He has a fair bit of talent this bloke and he is virtually untapped and he has only had a handful of starts and he keeps improving.”

Co-trainer Peter Snowden added that Acatour could have one more run during the Sydney Autumn Carnival before heading to Brisbane for the their Winter Carnival.

Winning jockey Blake Shinn positioned Acatour ($10) just behind the two leaders and when it looked like the $2.40 favourite Theanswermyfriend with Luke Nolen in the saddle and the $21 outsider Veladero were going to the fight out the finish, the Snowden trained colt pounced on them and drew away to recorded a comfortable three and a half lengths win.

Theanswermyfriend fought hard to the line to grab second spot by a nose just ahead of the Chris Waller trained Veladero.