In a thrilling dead heat, the odds-on favourite NAVAL COMMANDER (No. 6, Shane Ellis up) is about to share the spoils with 13-1 outsider THEREALPRINCE (Paul Francis) in the ninth race for the Richard Ashenheim Cup over 1500 metres for maiden two-year-olds at Caymanas Park yesterday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

JOCKEY PAUL 'Country' Francis stole the show at Caymanas Park yesterday with four winners on the 10-race programme, including 13-1 outsider THEREALPRINCE, who finished in a dead heat with howling favourite NAVAL COMMANDER in the Richard Ashenheim Cup 2-y-o feature over 1500 metres.

The former two-time champion apprentice also won aboard 9-5 chance FELICIDAD for trainer Ryan Darby in the second race, MOON DANCER at 5-1 for trainer Charles Morrissey in the Eggie Sutherland Memorial Cup, the secondary feature over 2000 metres, and 99-1 shocker, OUR DEELITE, in the eighth race over the straight five course for maiden three-year-olds.

Long-time leader

Trained by Michael McIntosh for the Y.S. Racing Stables, the same connections of last year's Superstakes winner MAJOR MAYER, OUR DEELITE, who was racing for the first time and worst drawn on the far side at post position one, raced in touch before going by long-time leader KING OF THE TRACK (5-2) leaving the quarter pole, moving away to win by two lengths from the 7-5 favourite HERETOETERNITY in a field of 10.

The chestnut filly by Pat N Jac out of Believeitsours paid a whopping $8,026 to win, the biggest win dividend declared since the minimum stake was increased from $20 to $40 some months ago.

Francis, who has been riding on an off at Calder in Florida this season, enjoyed his best day in the saddle since booting home six winners at Caymanas Park on Boxing Day, 2004.

Always prominent in the Richard Ashenheim Cup, THEREALPRINCE swept past early leaders SIR ARCHIBALD (3-1) and SPONGY SPONGY (49-1) at the halfway stage and turned for home with 1-2 favourite NAVAL COMMANDER breathing down his neck in second.

Head-bobbing duel

THEREALPRINCE was eventually caught and headed by the Shane Ellis-ridden NAVAL COMMANDER approaching the distance but, under strong urging from Francis, rallied gamely on the inside to point again midway through the last furlong.

In a thrilling, head-bobbing duel over the last 100 metres, NAVAL COMMANDER got up on the line to share the spoils, even though to the naked eye it appeared he had won by a nose. CLASSIC BEAU (5-1) finished third, a farther 1 3/4 lengths away.

A roan colt by He'stherealthing out of Pacific Princess, THEREALPRINCE is owned by Clarence C. Green and trained by Randolph Scott. NAVAL COMMANDER is a bay colt by Requete out of La Grande Dame, owned and bred by Ruth Hussey and trained by her son, Percy. Significantly, both horses won for the first time on their fourth start.

On what turned out to be a tough day for form players, only two favourites in NAVAL COMMANDER and the three-year-old debutant CHANGE THE RULE, in the opening race, obliged.