The 2018 Group 1 Metropolitan at Randwick on Saturday looks the most open in many years with only three runners under the $10 mark in the early betting with Ladbrokes.com.au
The Richard Freedman trained Auvray will carry the top weight of 57kg in the $750,000 2400m feature staying race of the 2018 Sydney Spring Carnival.
Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will saddle up eight of the eighteen runners with English import Brimham Rocks heading the pre-post market order at $4.80 with stablemate Libran on the third line of betting at $9.50.
Sandwiched in between the Waller pair at $8 is the Mick Price trained mare Miss Admiration.
We have analysed every runner in the 2018 Metropolitan field and our tips can be found below.
Auvray
Auvray is a proven stayer with wins up to 3000m and has been allocated the top weight of 57kg. The eight year old will appreciate the 2.5kg drop in weight after running a courageous race with 59.5kg on his back when runner up in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup at Newcastle a fortnight ago. Jockey Tye Angland will be able to put the Richard Freedman trained Auvray to sleep from barrier two and conserve most of his energy for his finishing burst. Auvray is a winner over this course and distance and is one of the main chances at good each way odds.
Big Duke
The Darren Weir trained Big Duke is stepping up to his right distance at his fourth run back from a spell and is looking to go one better than last year when second to Foundry in the 2017 Metropolitan. Big Duke ran his best race this time in with a third up fifth in the 2000m Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick on September 15. The seven year old will get a quiet run in the second half of the field from barrier eight and will be doing his best work at the finish. Has strong claims.
Libran
Libran is the first of trainer Chris Waller’s eight Metropolitan runners and a win by the eight year old wouldn’t surprise. The veteran stayer will get back from a wide barrier but the master Hugh Bowman is certain to give him the best possible run and we can see him looming up at some stage in the straight. Is a three times winner over the 2400m and has to be included in the chances.
Wall Of Fire
English import Wall Of Fire will be saddling up for the first time since suffering a leg injury when sixteenth in the 2017 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Wall Of Fire will be having his first run for new trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace who have set the six year old a huge task of tackling a tough Group 1 staying contest first up. Reports from the Caulfield stable is that Wall Of Fire is showing no ill effects from his injury and heads to Sydney on the back of two recent barrier trial wins at Cranbourne. Betting on race day will be the best guide.
Sedanzer
A better barrier draw in the Metropolitan will definitely held the chances of Sedanzer who failed to threaten from a wide gate last start when eleventh in the 2000m Kingston Town Stakes. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Sedanzer raced on the pace in winning the 2200m Brisbane Cup at Doomben during the 2018 Brisbane Winter Carnival and Tim Clark will be able take up a prominent position from barrier five in the capacity field. Is another with a good each way chance at double figure odds.
Patrick Erin
The Chris Waller trained Patrick Erin was doing his best work at the finish for a last start fourth in the Kingston Town Stakes and is ready to peak for the 2400m Metropolitan. Corey Brown takes over from Tommy Berry and is certain to give the seven year old every chance from barrier four.
Midstream
The Liam Howley trained English import Midstream ran into contention for the Metropolitan with a second up nose second in a 2400m Caulfield Handicap on September 1. Has drawn one from the outside in the eighteen horse field but could go forward again and will give plenty of cheek with a 7.5kg drop in weight. The Lloyd Williams’ blue and white colours were carried to victory by Foundry in the 2017 Metropolitan and Midstream will be sporting those famous colours again.
Alward
Alward is another from the Chris Waller stable but could be struggling to figure in the finish coming off a last start ninth in the Kingston Town Stakes.
Miss Admiration
Victorian trained mare Miss Admiration put herself well and truly into contention for the Metropolitan with a classy win in the Group 3 JRA Trophy over 2400m at Rosehill last Saturday. The Mick Price trained mare has run into form at the right time and Miss Admiration has to be considered as one of the main chances with only 50kg on her back.
Brimham Rocks
English import Brimham Rocks has been racing consistently in restricted class before stepping up to Group 3 company for a handy second to Avilius in the Kingston Town Stakes on September 15. Trainer Chris Waller has timed the five year old’s run to perfection and Brimham Rocks is set to peak in the Metropolitan on Saturday and has subsequently been installed as the favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Sin To Win
Sin To Win has been racing okay in lower class and is not the worst on his last start third in the JRA Trophy. The Lindsay Park trained stayer will have no trouble running out the distance with wins up to 3200m on his record.
The Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor has strung together two wins on the trot in BenchMark 88 Handicaps over 2000n and is yet to win beyond that distance. A drop of 8.5kg will give the Chris Waller trained four year old a light weight chance.
Nettoyer
Nettoyer is stepping up sharply in distance and has been installed as one of the outsiders of the field following her last start ninth in the 1400m Group 2 Tramway Stakes at Randwick on September 1.
Just Shine
Just Shine ran his best race this time in with a last start third in the Newcastle Gold Cup but will find this a lot tougher.
Sikandarabad
The Lindsay Park trained Irish import Sikandarabad is facing a tough assignment stepping up to Group 1 company for the first time coming off a last start fourth in a 2040m Handicap at The Valley.
High Bridge
The Chris Waller trained English import High Bridge is a winner over the jumps back in England and won’t have any trouble with the 2400m of the Metropolitan. The eight year old is stepping up to Group 1 company coming off two midweek wins at Canterbury and Warwick Farm but the 10kg drop in weight will help his chances.
Opposition
Opposition is well out of his class after being well beaten in restricted class at his most recent outings.
Jake’s Hill
The last of Chris Waller’s runners is Jake’s Hill who has been listed as the outsider of the Metropolitan field after being unplaced at three runs in restricted class this campaign.
Romanesque
Romanesque is the only emergency in the Metropolitan field but will only make up the numbers if he does manage to find a place in the field.