KEY POINTS:
Trainer Alexander Fieldes and the owners of New Zealander Capecover gained some consolation for their stayer being balloted out of the Melbourne Cup when he won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington yesterday.
The Cape Cross 6-year-old needed to win the Saab Quality (2500m) over the same trip
as yesterday's Group Three event on Derby Day to sneak into the Cup.
But he finished an unlucky third to Moatize and Light Vision after being held up for a run.
"Perhaps we can come back [for the Cup] next year, who knows," Fieldes said.
Ridden again by Craig Williams, Capecover ($5.50) came from last and won by 1 lengths from Light Vision ($4.40) with Baughurst ($4.20 fav) a short half-head away third.
"He was right at this peak today, although he would have needed to be if he was to be a chance in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday," said Wanganui-based Fieldes, who also works as a meat inspector.
"I'm on leave without pay hoping I could get something.
"We lived the dream, we waited four years to get to the Melbourne Cup. If he was going to be a genuine chance he would have had to win the Saab.
"He hasn't run a bad race over here and I'm very proud of the horse. Craig Williams said to me after he ran second in the Moe Cup he still has a lot to learn to become a proper stayer. Last week he said he's almost there and today he said, `I'll win on him'."
Part-owner and well-known Kiwi trainer Kevin Myers gave Capecover to Fieldes as a 2-year-old.
Capecover has raced in three Australian states, and won the Tokyo City Cup (1600m) at Morphettville in September.
He went to Sydney for The Metropolitan (2400m) finishing seventh to Newport on a wet track which Fieldes said didn't suit him.
Meanwhile, a four-month plan to target the Group One Emirates Stakes came to fruition for Randwick trainer Grahame Begg when All Silent powered away from his rivals for an easy win.
All Silent also won the Group Three AAMI Travel Insurance Stakes (1400m) on Derby Day.
He was buried in the middle of the 16-horse field but 350m out All Silent exploded away to score by 3 lengths from Sea Battle with Mimi Lebrock three-quarters of a length away third.
"He finishes his races off so well, he doesn't know how to lay down, he just really attacks the line hard," Begg said.
"We set him for this race four months ago and it's all worked out well. He's entered for Hong Kong and for Perth but I would say it is more than likely that he will be going home."
- AAP
