Randwick’s staying feature, the Group 1 Metropolitan, has drawn another full field with 20 runners set to contest the 2400-metre handicap on Saturday.
Chris Waller’s Birdman has opened favourite after being well-weighted on 51.5kg, with Kerrin McEvoy to ride. The consistent stayer looks primed to strike at the top level.
Vauban (58.5kg) and Arapaho (58kg) head the weights, while last week’s Colin Stephen winner Piggyback sits on the minimum and tops the ballot. Waller also has Travolta, Soul Of Spain and several others in the mix, though many sit low in the order of entry and will rely on attrition to secure a start.
Other key hopes include Changingoftheguard for Kris Lees, More Felons from the Waller yard, and the in-form Athabaskan.
With international raiders, proven Group performers and lightly weighted emerging stayers, this year’s Metropolitan shapes as one of the most open contests of the spring.
Likely Field for The Metropolitan
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piggyback | C Maher | A Adkins | 50kgs |
| 2 | Vauban | G Waterhouse & A Bott | T Clark | 58.5kgs |
| 3 | Arapaho | B Baker | R King | 58kgs |
| 4 | More Felons | C Waller | 55kgs | |
| 5 | Changingoftheguard | K Lees | E Brown | 54.5kgs |
| 6 | Elamaz | G Waterhouse & A Bott | 53.5kgs | |
| 7 | Athabascan | J O’Shea & T Charlton | 52kgs | |
| 8 | Birdman | C Waller | K McEvoy | 51.5kgs |
| 9 | Naval College | A & R Archibald | 51kgs | |
| 10 | Son Of Sun | B Wallace & G Cooksley | 51kgs | |
| 11 | Etna Rosso | C Waller | J Ford | 50kgs |
| 12 | Wyclif | C Maher | 50kgs | |
| 13 | Glory Daze | C Maher | 50kgs | |
| 14 | Royal Supremacy | C Maher | 50kgs | |
| 15 | Don Diego De Vega | A & R Archibald | 50kgs | |
| 16 | Flying Bandit | K Parker | 50kgs | |
| 17 | Trust In You | B Wallace & G Cooksley | 50kgs | |
| 18 | Travolta | C Waller | 50kgs | |
| 19 | Tajanis | C Waller | 50kgs | |
| 20 | God’s Window | C Waller | 50kgs | |
| 21 | Strathtay | C Waller | 50kgs | |
| 22 | Sun ‘N’ Sand | B Joseph, M & P Jones | 50kgs | |
| 23 | Soul Of Spain | C Waller | Z Lloyd | 50.5kgs |
| 24 | Juja Kibo | C Maher | 50kgs | |
| 25 | Golden Century | C Waller | 50kgs |