Mr Chard has won the opening Victoria Derby Day race during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington today, beating a classy field of three-year-olds in the $250,000 Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).

Making it back-to-back wins after taking out the Gothic Stakes at Caulfield last start, the Dean Lawson-trained Mr Chard stormed home to claim a comprehensive win today leaving the favourite Skilled far behind.

Ace Acosta was the early leader, at the front of the field until the home straight, eventually fading right out to finish last.

On the sprint home Skilled was given every chance, moving up quickly from their second position to challenge.

However Mr Chard, with jockey Craig Williams aboard, was given the ride of the day.

After settling in a lovely position fourth, Mr Chard followed Skilled up on the straight before passing them all and running to the front with 300m to go.

Pulling away, Mr Chard left Skilled behind and sprinted away to open it up and win by two and a half lengths from Bart Cummings’ Goldstone, who ran home well, with Condelago finishing third.

The punters favourite Skilled eventually finished a well beaten fourth.

The next race on the card at Flemington is the $250,000 Group 3 The Lexus Stakes (2500m), the last chance for Melbourne Cup hopefuls to win and get into the field.

So back your favourites at the hottest price through Luxbet today as they are offering the Tote + 20% on every Victoria Derby Day race!

2010 Carbine Club Stakes Finishing Order

Finish	No.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Weight	Margin
1st	2	MR CHARD(3)	Craig Williams	Dean Lawson	56.0	1-36.00
2nd	5	GOLDSTONE(4)	Michael Rodd	Bart Cummings	55.0	2.5L
3rd	3	CONDELAGO(1)	Nash Rawiller	Mick Huxtable	55.0	2.7L
4th	1	SKILLED(5)	Kerrin McEvoy	Peter Snowden	57.0	3.5L
5th	8	JALSAH(7)	Glyn Schofield	David Hayes	53.0	5.7L
6th	7	GET OUT OF TOWN(6)	Jake Noonan	Mick Price	55.0	8.0L
7th	6	KOOKABURRAS(2)	Damien Oliver	Lee Freedman	55.0	8.2L
8th	4	ACE ACOSTA(8)	Corey Brown	Lee Freedman	55.0	13.2L