Bart Cummings began Flemington’s Melbourne Cup carnival in familiar style with Lunar Rise in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).

Lunar Rise (3g Starcraft – Spirited Dancer by Sadler’s Wells) carried the famous black, white and yellow colours of Dato Tan Chin Nam to a narrow victory in the opening race at headquarters.  “It’s nice to have a winner on Derby day,” Cummings said.  “And it’s nice to win for Chin Nam who’s been a loyal client over many, many years.”

Saintly won the 1995 Carbine Club Stakes for the pair and he progressed to take out the G1 Australia Cup, G1 Cox Plate and G1 Melbourne Cup.  Nevertheless, Lunar Rise will be reserved for 1600m events next year.

Settled off a hot speed up front by Hugh Bowman, Lunar Rise unleashed a strong finish to defeat Darley stablemates Tatra and Proverb.  “He got fired up when he came on to the track but gave me a beautiful ride,” Bowman said.  “The mile is his go.”

Lunar Rise is by Arrowfield Stud sire Starcraft from a half-sister to the dam of former Coolmore Stud shuttler Peintre Celebre (Nureyev) who was a G1 winner of the Arc de Triomphe and French Derby.  He was a $380,000 purchase by DGR Thoroughbreds from Arrowfield’s draft at the 2011 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.