Winner: Tagus (Encosta de Lago-Lady Capel)
Race: VRC Melbourne Cup Day Plate LR (1800m)
Sold for: $250,000
Sale: 2006 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Baramul Stud
Buyer: Anthony Cummings
Earnings: $421,280
Owner(s): Patinack Farm (Mgr: N Tinkler) & G Harvey
Trainer: John Thompson (Flemington)

Tagus topped a memorable day for his dam Lady Capel when he scored a dashing win in the listed Melbourne Cup Day Plate (1800m) at Flemington today.

A beautifully bred son of champion Coolmore Stud sire Encosta de Lago, Tagus cruised home in the feature stakes race to beat last year’s winner Right Fong and last start stakes winner Hidden Wonder.

At the post Tagus held a three and a quarter length margin over his rivals.

Winning trainer John Thompson was pleased to be able to break through at the Flemington carnival for large scale owner, breeder and racing supporter Nathan Tinkler.

“We’ve been competitive with no luck, but we got the job there so it was a good effort by all the team.”

For many seasons Tagus has been competitive at good level and today the son of Encosta de Lago was able to notch up his second stakes win.

“Since he’s been gelded he’s been very consistent,” Thompson noted.

Connections aren’t sure what will be next for Tagus – happy to soak up his latest stakes race success.

“We’ll just get through today and have a think about it,” Thompson commented.

Winning rider Dwayne Dunn was impressed with how Tagus found the line after being left in front a long way from home.

“When I broke between them on the home bend I thought – hang on, we’re going to get there too soon,” Dunn said.

“But he just travelled so beautifully and when I put the foot on the pedal he accelerated.”

The win capped a top day for Tagus’ dam, the top producing Last Tycoon mare Lady Capel.

Earlier in Brisbane her record breaking colt Metallurgical broke through in style at Eagle Farm in a 1000 metre contest.

A full brother to Metallurigcal and half brother to Tagus will be one of the headline lots of an outstanding draft from Baramul Stud at January’s 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The Redoute’s Choice-Lady Capel colt bound for the sale is also a half brother to Patinack Farm’s first Group One winner and foundation stallion Casino Prince.

A stakes performer in her own right, Lady Capel is also the dam of the multiple Sydney stakes winner Lord of the Land.

As well as being a top producer and classy galloper Lady Capel is an incredibly bred mare.

She is a full sister to the group winner Palia – dam of another Patinack Farm Group One winner in Onemorenomore as well as the stakes winning sire Dr Green.

Lady Capel is also a full sister to the stakes winning sire Just Awesome as well as the dam of globetrotting sprint sensation Green Birdie.