Former top jockey Patrick Payne showed he was making a good fist of his role as a trainer when Capecover carried topweight to victory in the $200,000 Mornington Cup.The tough New Zealand stayer ran 17th to Shocking in last year's Melbourne Cup (3200m) and was third-up in Wednesday's Listed 2400m feature.Capecover ($6), ridden by Steven Arnold, carried 59kg to a two-length victory over Al Wafi ($11) with Fairygem ($3.10 fav) a half-length away third.By Cape Cross, the sire of recently-retired cha

Former top jockey Patrick Payne showed he was making a good fist of his role as a trainer when Capecover carried topweight to victory in the $200,000 Mornington Cup.

The tough New Zealand stayer ran 17th to Shocking in last year's Melbourne Cup (3200m) and was third-up in Wednesday's Listed 2400m feature.

Capecover ($6), ridden by Steven Arnold, carried 59kg to a two-length victory over Al Wafi ($11) with Fairygem ($3.10 fav) a half-length away third.

By Cape Cross, the sire of recently-retired champion European colt Sea The Stars, Capecover went one better than last year when he was runner-up to Banana Man.

"He's just a fantastic old horse. He loves it here getting up to the 2400 metres. He's a beautiful old horse to train," Payne said of Capecover who is usually trained in New Zealand by Alexander Fieldes.

Fieldes won the 2008 Group Three Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) at Flemington with Capecover who was balloted out of the Melbourne Cup that year.

The horse is raced by owners who live in England and also include Kiwi trainer Kevin Myers, a family friend of Payne's.

Payne announced plans for the seven-year-old gelding to target the Group Two $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 8.

He said he would have one more lead-up run in the Group Three Lord Reims (2600m) at Morphettville on Saturday week.

Payne's best win as a trainer to date was with the Patinack Farm-owned Laura's Charm in the 2008 Group Two Sunline Stakes (1600m).

He had the runner-up, Princess Marizza, in the same race behind Zarita last Saturday.

Payne took two runners to Mornington and came home with a double with promising Bel Esprit three-year-old colt Rebel Truce winning earlier in the day.

Payne and Arnold walked the track before Wednesday's race and planned for him not to get too far back and the stayer had it won when he dashed clear early in the straight.

"Steve's such a great rider and gave him a great ride today. We didn't want to get back and give them a huge headstart today," Payne said.

"So we thought we'd leave him in his comfort zone but if he could take up a better position that would be well and good and Steve did it beautifully."

Arnold said Capecover had a bit of quality and was pretty sharp for the race and that Payne was doing a good job with his small team.