Short-priced front runner Fat Al has justified his favouritism by comfortably taking out the Group 3 2012 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney today.

Fat Al winning the Carbine Club Stakes at Royal Randwick - photo (c) Steve Hart

Despite missing the jump by half a neck, jockey Nash Rawiller was able to settle the horse behind eventual runner-up Now You Know for the majority of the race before easily pushing into the lead at the top straight and from there nobody was catching the Gai Waterhouse gelding.

It takes the three-year-old’s record to four wins from six starts and Waterhouse was thrilled with how easily today’s victory came for the horse who arrived at her stables in poor condition.

“He’s a very good horse…he toyed with them,” Waterhouse said.

“He sat there and when Nash [Rawiller] pressed the go-fast button he just did exactly that”

“This horse was such a dumb bum when he came to us…he fell in a ditch.

“Ever since he’s come back, every time he’s just kept improving and he has just a lovely disposition.”

It is yet another victory for the Waterhouse-Rawiller combination that has become synonymous with victory in Sydney racing.

Rawiller, who first rode for Waterhouse on Derby Day five years ago, was singing the praises of both horse and trainer after the race.

“He travelled beautifully…Craig [Williams] set a nice tempo and half the race we were able to sit behind him so it worked out perfectly” Rawiller said.

“Full credit to Gai, she’s given all these horses time.

“They’re really reaping the rewards now. Horses like him and Laser Hawk, full credit to Gai.”

Peter Snowden colt Galah ran third but the Redoute’s Choice colt was unable to show the kind of spark that saw him win three straight races last spring and may now be destined for a spell.