Frank Tagg’s high-class colt Carrara showed he had returned to competition in good heart with a dominant performance to land the the $100,000 Essendon Nissan Stakes (Listed) over 1200m at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Carrara added a second stakes victory to his record despite a torrid run in transit. Jumping from barrier six, Carrara was forced to race three-wide for most of the way before showing his class by accelerating away from his rivals at the top of the straight.

Carrara needed only the minimum of urging from Nicholas Hall to defeat Umanugget - whose dam is by our own stalwart Umatilla - by 1 ¼ lengths in a 1,2 for Blue Gum stallions in one of the feature races for three-year-old colts this Spring.

Trainer Tony Vasil revealed after the race his victory in the Doomben Slipper (Listed) on a heavy track had flattened him for the remainder of the winter carnival.His subsequent two placings in stakes company testament to the toughness of the son of Elvstroem.

However Carrara quickly returned to his best in preparation for his latest assignment.”I actually rode it in a trial on Tuesday and he gave me a great feel,” Vasil told TVN after the race.

“He’s a brilliant beginner, almost as good as Super Elegant out of the gates so I said to Nick (Hall) to try and capitalise on that early but he got posted three deep through no fault of his own and had no favours in the run.

“He showed a bit of grit in the straight, he’s a good workmanlike horse,” he added.

By Elvstroem out of Hurricane Sky mare, Crystal Spite, Carrara is a $200,000 purchase from the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and is bred by Jim and June Anderson who have been great supporters of Elvstroem and Blue Gum Farm.

Elvstroem is understandably proving very popular with breeders for 2009 season and he is looking in magnificent condition as the start of his working year approaches.