It's been a week of headlines but the Group 1 $2.5 Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup has now been run and won for 2005.

Four year old Railings made it another Cup victory for New Zealand sire Zabeel who boasted the Cup trifecta in 1999 with Sky Heights, Laebeel and Inaflury; and who has also sired one of the all time Cup legends - Might and Power - who won the race by 7.5 lengths in 1997.

Railings (fresh from back to back victories in the G1 Metropolitan and G3 Colin Stephen Quality Handicap) lunged on the line to snatch victory from Japanese runner Eye Popper and race top weight (and 2003 winner) Mummify.

Despite his wide barrier, Mummify had dictated the early race terms, crossing the field by the time they passed the judge for the first time and leading Hollow Bullet and Portland Singa out of the straight.

As they turned for home it was Mummify still leading the pack - the surprise being the dominating challenge by Eye Popper - the two engaging in a head to head duel that lasted all the way to the line; Railings and (second emergency) Natural Blitz coming with a late rush, Railings only securing it in the final stride.

It was, in commentator Greg Miles' words "a barnstorming finish", the win breaking trainer John Hawkes' hex on the race and giving Greg Childs his second victory (after Northerly).

Wayne Hawkes said he was "lost for words" after the run; managed to say that Railings “made his own luck 8 or 9 wide at the turn. Dad said he was right as rain in the yard and that was enough for me". Asked if Railings would now line up for the Melbourne Cup he said "Absolutely!".

Race favorite (and last week's Yalumba Stakes winner) El Segundo, and WATC and Victoria Derby winner Plastered finished well back in the field. Third place getter Mummify pulled up in distress after the race.

Stats:

It was a Metropolitan/Caulfield Cup double for Railings. The last horse to achieve this was Hayai in 1983 (before him Redcraze in the 1950's).

After the scratching of Fight Your Corner due to a tendon injury, only three international horses started in today's race: The Godolphin-owned Razkalla, Eye Popper (the first Japanese horse to contest a Group One race in Australia) and English stayer Carte Diamond (who attempted to become the second overseas horse to win the Caulfield Cup after Taufan's Melody 1998 victory). Razkalla finished 16th and Carte Diamond 9th.

There was some last minute rider shuffling as well - Kerrin McEvoy rode Razkalla; Vlad Duric secured the ride on Hollow Bullet and Kathy O'Hara (one of only two apprentices in the race and only the second female to ride in the Cup) rode Wild Iris.