5-year-old Muir, trained by Robert Hickmott, put in a great staying run to be near the lead the entire race after a great jump from the widest barrier (18) and surged to the front in the home straight, holding off the fast finishing Saddlers Story and Macedonian.

It looked like second favourite Macedonian might have threatened, but the real danger came from Saddlers Story who finished strongly down the outside over the 3200m race.

WA raider Big Ted lead the field around until the final 900m where Pergola took the lead from Muir. While it looked like favourite King Diamond was going to reward his backers when he started his run through the middle of the field, he was unable to find the needed speed over the last 400m to make the placings.

Adelaide Cup Results 2011

The Patrick Payne-trained Kiwi stayer Capecover ($5) beat home stablemate Kerdem ($6.50) by a length with Mark Kavanagh’s Itstheone ($10) in third just a short half-head away.

The $4.20 favourite Fairygem, prepared by master Victorian trainer Peter Moody, finished just out of the money in fourth.

It was a sensational result for Plumpton-based trainer Payne, a former champion jockey, and the biggest success of his training career. Payne has now tasted Adelaide Cup success as both a jockey and trainer, as he won aboard Our Pompeii 16 years ago in 1994.

There was a nervous delay following the race, however, as Kerdem’s jockey Payne’s sister Michelle, protested the result. It would still have been a win for Payne either way, but Capecover’s victory was upheld as the objection regarding an alleged interference at the top of the straight was rejected.

After settling towards the back of the field early, topweight Capecover made his move up the outside on the straight charging to the front.

Kerdem put in a courageous effort, challenging the leader and eventual winner all the way down the home straight. The close racing resulted in some bumping between the top two finishers, which was the cause of Michelle Payne’s protest, but not enough to overturn the results.

Capecover was ridden by Steven Arnold, giving the hoop his second Adelaide Cup win following his success on Gallic in 2007.

Capecover has now won 12 of his 43 career starts for prizemoney in excess of $840, 420. Payne has expressed interest in preparing the son of Cape Cross for the prestigious Group 1 Sydney Cup on April 24 at Randwick, but it all depends on how Capecover pulls up over the next week.

Other excellent races to fill the card at the Adelaide Cup meeting included the $100, 000 Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) where improving More Than Ready mare Augusta Proud claimed an upset win, and the $200, 000 Group 2 Yallambee Classic (1200m) won by the impressive filly Majestic Music, a stablemate to Augusta Proud. The two group winners gave local trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas a sensational feature race double at the meeting.

2010 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup Results