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 Saturday's Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington.The Cape Cross six-year-old needed to win the Saab Quality (2500m) over the same trip as Saturday's Group Three event on Derby Day to sneak into the Cup.However he finished an unlucky third to Moatize and Light Vision after being held up for a run at the top of the straight."Perhaps we can

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 Saturday's Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington.

The Cape Cross six-year-old needed to win the Saab Quality (2500m) over the same trip as Saturday's Group Three event on Derby Day to sneak into the Cup.

However he finished an unlucky third to Moatize and Light Vision after being held up for a run at the top of the straight.

"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 1-3/4 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 had a team of horses at the Gisborne meeting in New Zealand which Fieldes said was "somewhere along the lines of Port Augusta".

"Well done to Kevin. He gave me the horse as a two-year-old and tried to take the horse off me many times in jest but I'm just thrilled he kept the horse with me," he said.

Capecover has raced in three states, winning 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.