VICTORIAN jockey Michelle Payne had a day out at Morphettville on Saturday.
Payne recorded a winning treble which included Kiwi stayer Capecover in the Tokyo City Cup who Payne rode Capecover in similar fashion to her two other victories on Doin'thehardyards and Sparks Fly.
She sat quietly before bringing the gelding with a strong finish to score by 1 1/2 lengths in the Listed Tokyo City Cup (1600m), beating local galloper Dollops and Verco Road.
Being well down in the cup weights (50kg), the six-year-old's Wanganui trainer Alexander Fieldes must now plan a course which will not only qualify the horse for the majors, but lift the gelding in the weights.
He has to decide whether Capecover backs up next week at Caulfield or waits until the following Friday.
"I did have the option of running him in a weight-for-age race over 1600m in Melbourne today, but at that level he just would not have been competitive," Fieldes said.
"That is why I settled on this softer race at handicap conditions. Start in something small and hopefully work up."
The trainer had intended bringing Capecover to Australia 12 months ago but those plans were thwarted because of the EI outbreak.
Capecover arrived from New Zealand two weeks ago and was guided by part-owner and NZ trainer Kevin Myers, who recommended the Adelaide race in preference to yesterday's Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Caulfield.
There was no shortage of support on track for the gelding despite the unsuitable journey. He was the most heavily backed runner in the race, from $9 into $5.50.
Payne said Capecover travelled well throughout, settling towards the rear but once he gained momentum in the straight, he went to the line virtually untouched.
Dollops was a big run in his first start at 1600m but his rider took off early.
The David Jolly-trained galloper hit the front in the straight but was left a sitting shot for the NZ-trained winner.
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