Racing: Impressive start for horse, rider

There is more class than you imagine in the often despised amateur riders' race, the $10,000 Duke Of Gloucester Cup at Ellerslie tomorrow.

And that's both equine and human.

Have a look at 15-year-old Sam Fieldes aboard Capeover.

The pair have an almost identical record - Capeover has been to the races just once for a win and his teenage rider tomorrow has two visits for a win.

There is an interesting story behind Sam Fieldes, son of trainer and former Trackside television form analyst and presenter Alexander (ARA) Fieldes.

He was granted a professional probationary licence a few months ago, then, because of an apparent loophole in the rules, he was subsequently licensed as an amateur rider.

He made the most of the opportunity to win as an amateur aboard Shinko Dancer at Hastings, but - as so often happens - someone complained of the unfairness of a professional riding against amateurs and tomorrow will be his last ride in the amateur ranks.

"Sam will be fully licensed as a professional from October 15, when he is 15 and three months," said Alexander Fieldes.

Sam Fieldes may have gone around only a couple of times, but he hasn't gone unnoticed.

Jim Collett called his father with the joking comment of: "How could you have bred someone that good."

And Gavin McKeon said he has seen racing in a lot of places, but has not seen a better ride from someone involved in their first race ride.

Alexander Fieldes says Capeover is no usual amateur rider's horse. He won on debut at Marlborough in April and has not been seen since.

"He's got a lot of class.

"He'll handle the heavy track okay, but I'm a little concerned about how much it will take out of him."

There will be a lot of sentiment around the effort tomorrow - Alexander Fieldes rode the winner, Mickalino, of the time-honoured Duke Of Gloucester Cup when it was run at Riccarton in 1990.

"Journalist Mike Brown rode the second horse and hit my horse over the head in the home straight.

"When we pulled up I asked him why he did it and he said it was the only way he could see how he could beat me."