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

The feature race of the day is the $400, 000 Group 2 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup (3200m) where 17 classy stayers are set to battle it out for the lucrative stakes and status on offer.

The two classy gallopers battling for favouritism ahead of Monday’s Adelaide Cup are Capecover and Moment In Time, both sitting at $5.50 with SportsBet.

Moment In Time, a five-year-old Archway mare prepared by Murray Bridge, is coming off a brilliant win in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) on February 27 at the same track. She has drawn the coveted barrier one for Monday and with in-form hoop Dwayne Dunn aboard she will the runner to beat.

Dunn is aiming at his second Adelaide Cup victory following his success aboard Lacey Underall in 2008.

If Moment In Time does back up her Lord Reims victory with a win on Monday she will be 22^nd horse to take out the Lord Reims – Adelaide Cup double, the first since Chronus in 1997.

The Patrick Payne-trained Capecover ran a gallant third to Moment In Time in the Lord Reims and will start from barrier nine with Steven Arnold behind the reins.

Runner up in the Lord Reims, Dolphin Jo, is also backing up with a run in the 2010 Adelaide Cup. The seven-year-old Dolphin Street gelding has drawn wide with barrier 14 for Monday with Clare Lindop engaged for the ride and is currently at odds of $11.

Other top chances in the Adelaide Cup include Montahlia, De Fine Lago and Kerdem.

Montjeu mare Montahlia has displayed sensational recent form of late, coming off two wins over 3000m at Moonee Valley. The Michael Kent-trained six-year-old will jump from barrier 12 with big race specialist Glen Boss aboard and is paying $7 for a win.

Four-year-old De Fine Lago had an impressive last start when he ran second to Growl in the Hobart Cup (2200m). The Tony Vasil-trained Delago Brom gelding is yet to prove himself over the Adelaide Cup distance, his longest distanced win being over 2500m. De Fine Lago has drawn barrier 15, but with the talented Damien Oliver aboard, still is a strong chance here.

Kerdem has fared better in the barrier draw and will start from barrier six. The seven-year-old gelding from the Patrick Payne stable ran fourth in the Lord Reims Stakes last start and will be looking to improve on that this time round.

Adelaide Cup Day is so important that it is an official public holiday in South Australia and it is easy to see why when the elite line-up of races at the meeting also includes the $100, 000 Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m), $200, 000 Group 2 Yallambee Classic (1200m) and a three Listed status races.

The 2010 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup is scheduled as the ninth race on the ten-event programme.

2010 Adelaide Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

The testing handicap staying test is the feature race of the day, which also features the Group 2 Yallambee Stud Classic and the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes.

Hobart Cup winner Growl has been confirmed as a possible starter in the 2010 Adelaide Cup

Recent Group 2 Hobart Cup winner Growl has been confirmed by his trainer David Hayes as a possible starter in the 2010 Adelaide Cup, but before the South Australian race the seven-year-old will have a run in the Group 3 Launceston Cup on February 24.

Cranbourne based trainer Michael Kent is also looking at the Adelaide Cup as a potential two mile run for his six-year-old mare Monthalia.

Nominations for the 2010 Adelaide Cup close on Monday March 1 at noon and then the final acceptances finish on Wednesday March 3 at 9am prior to the announcement of the final field on Thursday March 4.