Tony Vasil has reserved judgment on Carrara as a genuine Caulfield Guineas contender despite his gritty win in the Listed Essendon Nissan Stakes at Moonee Valley.By Vasil's former outstanding galloper Elvstroem, a five-time Group One winner, Carrara ($2 fav) jumped brilliantly but was caught wide outside the leader Mitchener before kicking clear in the straight for a comfortable win.Ridden by Nick Hall, Carrara had 1-1/4 lengths to spare from Umanugget ($11) with the previously unbeaten Nicastro

Tony Vasil has reserved judgment on Carrara as a genuine Caulfield Guineas contender despite his gritty win in the Listed Essendon Nissan Stakes at Moonee Valley.

By Vasil's former outstanding galloper Elvstroem, a five-time Group One winner, Carrara ($2 fav) jumped brilliantly but was caught wide outside the leader Mitchener before kicking clear in the straight for a comfortable win.

Ridden by Nick Hall, Carrara had 1-1/4 lengths to spare from Umanugget ($11) with the previously unbeaten Nicastro ($5.50) a long neck away third.

"I actually rode him myself in a trial on Tuesday and he gave me a great feel," Vasil said.

"He's a brilliant beginner. He's almost as quick as Super Elegant (Vasil's former dual Group One-winning sprinter) out of the gates and I said to Nick to try and capitalise on that early.

"But he got posted three deep, not through any fault of his own, and he had no favours through the run and showed a bit of grit down the straight.

"He's a good workmanlike horse.

"He's in the (Caulfield) Guineas, it's probably still a little early to get too confident but he's heading in the right direction."

"He'll go to the Bill Stutt, which is a nice race for him, as a lead-in to the Caulfield Guineas. I don't know whether he's up to the Guineas, time will tell.

"On his pedigree on the dam's side he won't go past 1600 metres, but then again hopefully he's thrown to his sire (Victoria Derby and Caulfield Cup winner Elvstroem).

Carrara has now won three races, including the Listed Doomben Slipper (1350m), and hasn't been out of a place in six starts.

"He had a good campaign in Brisbane and won his first race up there on a heavy track. I backed him up a week later in the Sires and I dare say the run on the heavy may have taken a little bit of steam out of him," Vasil said.

"He just didn't show that customary sharpness, then he had a three-week gap until the Australia Post and he ran second to Shellscrape and I thought Nash (Rawiller) might have been a little bit complacent on him that day.

"He gave him a bit of a whack and he closed late and only got beaten a long neck. He (Shellscrape) came out a couple of weeks ago and won the San Domenico which franked the form."

Vasil said he had "only" 15 progeny of his old favourite Elvstroem in his team.