Sydney mare Palazzo Publicco has finished strongly to win the Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield in a race in which went ahead without the pre-post favourite Super Cash.

The Matthew Smith-trained Palazzo Publicco ($31) was making her season return in Saturday's Listed 1100m sprint for fillies and mares and she came from back in the field to defeat Aegean Sea by a short neck.

Super Cash was withdrawn behind the barriers due to lameness.

"Craig Williams got around there and wasn't happy with its action," chief steward Terry Bailey said.

Palazzo Pubblico's first-up win was her second at stakes level after taking out the Listed Bright Shadow Stakes at Doomben in May.

"She was quite fresh going to the barriers and she was first-up so I was really keen to get a bit of cover and let her use her turn of foot late," winning jockey Steven Arnold said.

"I probably got back a bit further than I wanted to but that was the only place I could get with cover.

"When I peeled out she really gave me a good kick."