Racing: Empyreal wins Caloundra Cup

Empyreal proved he is as versatile as his owner and trainer Peter McKenzie when he completed a major day for New Zealand with victory in the A$200,000 Caloundra Cup.

McKenzie is also a lawyer, opera singer and actor, his roles including playing Lord Elendil in the first of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy.

"I'm about to start a musical," was a natural response from an excited McKenzie on Saturday.

Empyreal came to form at the tail end of the Queensland carnival and looked a great prospect when rain provided him with his favourite heavy conditions on Saturday.

Another New Zealander Waltermitty caused a sensation when he reared coming out of the gates and dislodged his rider, who appeared to hit his head on the metal rail of the overhead starting stalls.

Waltermitty raced through the field to be in front of Empyreal on the home turn and in the closing stages looked a possibility to run the winner into the inside running rail.