Broadside ready to fire in The Metropolitan

Broadside must overcome a strenuous workload if he is to add to Gai Waterhouse’s honour roll in The Metropolitan.

The six-year-old faces a quick back-up for the second time as the trainer eyes her ninth win in the Group One 2400m The Metropolitan and her first since Glencadam Gold in 2012.

The Metropolitan has special significance for Waterhouse with Te Akau Nick, her first Group One runner, also her first Group One winner in the 1992 edition.

Broadside can emulate Glencadam Gold by securing the Newcastle Cup-Metropolitan double although he has also had to contend with the Listed Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) in between.

Three starts in 16 days is unprecedented for Broadside but Waterhouse’s co-trainer Adrian Bott is confident he can handle another 2400-metre race at Randwick on Saturday.

“The back-up won’t worry him,” Bott said.

“This is always the race we wanted to pick up with him because we think he’s a really progressive type and those stayers get in down in the weights.”

Broadside will carry 52kg, 5kg less than the favourite Libran.

“We’ve put the miles in his legs,” Bott said.

“The Newcastle Cup has been good for us before to get horses to the Metropolitan and hopefully it’s the right path for this horse.”

Broadside opened his campaign by tailing the field 10 lengths behind stablemate Dee I Cee in the Listed Premier’s Cup (1900m) on August 26.

The gelding then bounced back to win the Group Three Newcastle Cup before returning to Rosehill where he was pipped a short-head by Auvray in the Colin Stephen.

“He’s pulled up super. He had an easy race on Saturday the way the race was run. He’s come through that in good order,” Bott said.

“To win a Group One over 2400 metres you certainly need a rock hard tough, fit horse and that’s what he is now.”

Broadside was a $9.50 chance in the first final field market on Tuesday.