Cape D'Amore registered his first win in the metropolitan area in fine style by winning the $75,000 Voodoo Handicap (2000m) at Flemington this afternoon.

Jockey Ben Melham made full advantage of his inside gate taking the five-year-old entire to the lead before slackening the tempo mid-race.

With something up his sleeve, Melham went for home on Cape D'Amore at the 300m mark and in the process opened up and unassailable lead.

Cape D'Amore ($10-$11) defeated Light Vision ($5-$4.80) by ¾ of a length with Lady Avacan ($17-$21) a further length away in third.

Field Hunter ($11) finished just under three lengths from the winner in fourth.

Fancied runners Red Buttons ($5.50), Fordee ($6.50) and Miss Scarlatti ($5.50) finished seventh, eighth and ninth respectively while Leica Falcon ($61) continues to faulter on his comeback to racing, running last.

After the race, stable representative for the Brideoake yard, Tom Brideoake suggested it was always the plan to take Cape D'Amore to the front of the field.

"We were either going to lead or just be behind the leader from the gate and he goes quite well when he's out infront - he doesn't like to let anything past," he said.

Melham acknowledged that the tempo worked in his favour.

"He began well and I sort of worked him early but I was then able to back them off to a tempo that suited me," Melham said.

"With no weight on his back, I know he loves this trip, I was confident he'd be able to give a kick and win strongly."

Cape D'Amore's last victory came in the $125,000 Albury Cup (2000m) in March earlier this year and connections are uncertain whether the horse can get further.

"Where not sure whether he'll get further but there's plenty of nice races over 2000m this time of year so we'll just see how he pulls up and go from there."

"He's an entire as well and he's one of the quietest horses in the stable, he's a lovely horse."

By Cape Cross, Cape D'Amore was a $20,000 purchase from the 2006 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He has now won seven races from 30 starts, with his prizemoney now in excess of $210,000.

Pictures - Quentin Lang

© Cyberhorse 2010 Carl Di Iorio Published 05/09/09