A black-type winter Wednesday at Warwick Farm is unusual for punters, but the rescheduling of the feature race from last Saturday's washed-out meeting at Randwick presents a prime opportunity for favourite backers.

James Cummings is aiming to clinch the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) with the well-backed favourite Tamerlane.

Despite carrying a topweight of 59.5 kilograms, Tamerlane is in good hands with James McDonald, who is riding him for the first time since his fourth-place finish in the Group 2 Damien Oliver (1400m) at Flemington last November.

Tamerlane's odds firmed from +300 on Monday as he aims for his first win in three outings since winning The Buffering (1350m) at Doomben on December 30.

“He has drawn ideally in barrier one and strips much fitter now. He looks well-placed here and should prove hard to beat,” Cummings said.

Tamerlane's closest rival in the betting is Joe Pride's Estadio Mestalla at +400.