A field of seventeen will line up in the 2019 Group 1 The Metropolitan over 2400m at Randwick on Saturday.
Sydney’s
leading trainer Chris Waller has a great chance to win back to back
Metropolitans after securing six spots in the $750,000 staying contest with
Shraaoh, Wu Gok, Come Play With Me, Haripour and last year’s quinella Patrick
Erin and Brimham Rocks.
Gai
Waterhouse will be chasing a ninth win in The Metropolitan and this year will
team up with co-trainer Adrian Bott with last Saturday’s Colin Stephen Quality
winner Stampede and Newcastle Gold Cup winner Hush Writer.
Sir
Charles Road will be representing the Kiwis and the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew
Scott trained stayer is coming off a last start fifth at Randwick in the Group
3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).
We have
analysed all seventeen runners and our complete 2019 The Metropolitan tips can
be found below.
Shraaoh
Shraaoh
is the first of Chris Waller’s six Metropolitan runners and showed his staying
ability during the 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival with a win in the Group 1 Sydney
Cup (3200m) at Randwick. The English import is yet to fire at two runs back this
campaign but is better suited stepping up to the 2400m of Saturday’s contest
with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Gallic
Chieftain
Gallic
Chieftain is another who will be better suited stepping up to the 2400m after
an encouraging second up effort when he made up plenty of ground to finish
fourth to Brimham Rocks in the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.
Trainer Archie Alexandra is expecting further improvement with the blinkers
going back on.
Grey Lion
Grey Lion
had some handy form during the Autumn and the Winter and ran a mighty race to
find the runner’s up stall in the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm over the same
distance as The Metropolitan. Can figure in the minor placings again.
Neufbosc
The
Lindsay Park trained French import Neufbosc has been well beaten at his three
runs on Australian soil this campaign but will find this tougher than his
latest seventh to Brimham Rocks in the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at
Caulfield on September 21.
Stampede
Stampede
charged back into calculations for The Metropolitan with a second in the Group
3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick followed by a win in the Group 3
Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill last Saturday and is lining up for
the third week in succession. Stampede has a great chance to give Gai
Waterhouse her ninth win in The Metropolitan.
Wu Gok
The Chris
Waller trained Wu Gok is racing in great form with wins at his last two starts
but will find this tougher than his latest win in the Listed Wyong Cup over
2100m.
Big Duke
Big Duke has had one run back from a spell for a seventh in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 21. Was placed during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival in the 2400m Brisbane Cup and in the 3000m Tattersall’s Cup and will be suited by the step back up to the 2400m of The Metropolitan.
Come Play
With Me
The former West Australian trained Come Play With Me has had two runs for new trainer Chris Waller for a second in the 1900m Group 3 Premier’s Cup at Rosehill on August 31 followed by a sixth in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes. Is yet to win beyond 2200m.
Patrick
Erin
Patrick
Erin won this race last year for Chris Waller but is struggling to regain that
winning form. Has been sent out at triple figure odds at his last two starts
and raced accordingly. Hard to see back to back Metropolitan wins.
Haripour
The Chris
Waller trained Haripour hasn’t set the world alight with his two lead up runs
into The Metropolitan and is hard to recommend the six year old on his last
start ninth in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
Sir
Charles Road
Sir
Charles Road has the job of flying the flag for the Kiwis and while he hasn’t
been placed at his three lead up runs for The Metropolitan, his run when fifth
in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick was solid and the step
up to 2400m will suit.
Brimham
Rocks
Brimham
Rocks appears to be Chris Waller’s best chance of back to back wins in The Metropolitan
and the six year old heads back to Sydney looking to go one better than last
year when runner up to his stablemate Patrick Erin. Brimham Rocks returned to
winning form last start in the MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on
September 21. One of the top chances.
Hush
Writer
French import Hush Writer has found winning form at the right time and heads to The Metropolitan as a last start winner of the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) on September 20. Has drawn a nice barrier and has strong claims with a light weight.
Attention
Run
The Kris
Lees trained Attention Run chased home Hush Writer when second in the Group 3
Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) but it is hard to see the German import figuring in
the finish.
Scarlet
Dream
Scarlet Dream never threatened at her second run back when seventh in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m at Randwick on September 21. The four year old mare did run second over 2400m at Randwick during the Sydney Autumn Carnival when second in the Group 1 Australian Oaks and will be suited stepping back up to the mile and a half of The Metropolitan.
Supernova
Supernova
is a winner over 2400m at Doncaster in England but will have to do better than
his last start tenth in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m at
Randwick.
The Good
Fight
The Good Fight had winning restricted grade form back home in New Zealsn but was always well back in the field last start when sixth in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup over 2300m. Harder here.