3YOs share the prize

Those associated with Winnertakesitall found out that is not necessarily always the case after the Lamaro's Equine Pathways Plate at Caulfield.

The daughter of Snitzel was forced to share the prize with Lascars after the judge was unable to split them in the 1000-metre event for three-year-olds.

The Peter and Paul Sowden-trained filly came with an explosive burst from the rear to hit the line locked together with Lascars, resulting in a five-minute delay before the judge eventually declared a dead-heat.

"The plan was not to be that far back today but we got the right drag into the race and gee, she really motored home late," Winnertakesitall's jockeys Michael Dee said.

"A win's a win, albeit we have to share it today."

It was the second city win for Winnertakesitall, following a Moonee Valley win two starts earlier, and the first win for Lascars, a gelded son of Sepoy and Alizes who had finished second at his previous three runs.

Maher/Eustace stayer books Cup berth

Many punters expected Ciaron Maher and David Eustace to claim the guaranteed Caulfield Cup berth that accompanied victory in Saturday's MRC Foundation Cup, but not necessarily with the horse they won it with.

Smokin' Romans secured his placed in the $5 million staying feature when he proved strongest in the 2000-metre Group 3.

The six-year-old, who started $8, scored a three-quarters-of-a-length win over Uncle Bryn ($7.50) with the winner's heavily-backed stablemate Gold Trip ($3.80 fav), who loomed as the winner early in the straight, a neck away third.

"He put the writing on the wall last start at 2000 metres, but he struck Mankayan who was a fit racehorse," Maher said.

"It was a beautiful ride by Ethan Brown who went forward and looked to control the speed. He looked in control the whole way.

"The owners and I have always had high aspirations for him and just looking at the horse you tell he was in for a great prep."

Zapateo too good for Moody hot-pot

Peter Moody expressed extreme confidence in the chances of unbeaten mare Chain Of Lightning in the lead-up to Saturday's meeting, but she was no match for Zapateo in the $200,000 Group 3 How Now Stakes.

The James Cummings-trained daughter of Brazen Beauty bounced out of a last-start flop in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes won by Eduardo to register the fifth win of her 11-start career.

Expertly handled by Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver, the four-year-old proved strongest late to defeat Lavish Girl by 1-1/4 lengths with Chain Of Lightning a short-head back third.

"They went pretty slow and I popped out a bit sooner than I probably wanted to, but that was dictated to a bit by the tempo of the race," Oliver said.

"They did quicken up noticeably from the 600 (metres) and she was always travelling good. She handled the conditions well and gave me a strong kick."

One last win for good measure for Godolphin

James Cummings and Godolphin's day was already unforgettable before the final race at Caulfield, but Ingratiating put an exclamation mark it with his victory.

The four-year-old son of Frosted became Cummings' fourth winner and Caulfield and seventh across Australia's two biggest cities after a treble at Randwick.

The standout victory was Anamoe's fifth career Group 1 win in the $1 million George Main Stakes (1600m).

Cummings also won the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes with Alegron and provided the quinella in the final race at Randwick with Brigantine ad Larkspur Run.

Ingratiating's win, his first since the Group 3 Vain Stakes in August last year, came the race after Zapateo's win in the Group 3 How Now Stakes, while Aft Cabin produced the most dominant display of the day at Caulfield in the Group 2 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.

Cummings' also had Lascars dead-heat with Winnertakesitall in the second race at Caulfield.

"An extraordinary day," Cummings' Melbourne foreman Sean Keogh said.

"We do mention team, and that includes the jockeys. They're all well-schooled on the tactics as well.

"James is the trainer at the end of the day, but the team is there. Jason Walsh programmes the races for the horses and we've had a four-timer here today and then in Sydney with the Group 1 and races at the provincials as well.

"It's an outstanding effort from a huge team we have across two states."