An outside barrier has done little to dent stable confidence in Birdman’s Metropolitan claims with the stayer’s light weight expected to offset his difficult draw.
Birdman has gate 17 in Saturday’s 2400m feature but Chris Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth doesn’t feel the wide alley changes his ranking as the yard’s top seed.
A closing fifth behind Lindermann in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) when carting 59kg, Birdman bobbed at the right time to get the decision in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) last start with 55kg and drops to 51.5kg in the Metropolitan (2400m).
Duckworth anticipates that form stacking up on Saturday when Birdman rises to a more suitable distance.
“He didn’t look out of place against proper weight-for-age horses in the Chelmsford and he shouldn’t have been doing that over a mile and 2000 metres,” Duckworth said.
“He was bought to win a 3200-metre race and he has been doing it over half the distance.
“I think he should still be favourite out of ours. The draw does make things harder but winning last start and the weights already being out and him not being able to be penalised for it, in theory he is so well in.
“If he was in The Bart Cummings in Melbourne he’d be carrying 58-1/2 kilos and he’s carrying 51-1/2. They’re both Group One handicaps so he is arguably seven-kilos well in.
“That’s why he deserves to be where he is in the market for us.”
One of five Metropolitan runners for Waller, Birdman shares equal top billing in early markets with stablemate Soul Of Spain at $6, the latter also drawing slightly awkwardly in gate 11.
In contrast, barn mates Travolta ($17) and Etna Rosso ($11) drew one and two respectively, while More Felons, who is on the comeback trail from injury, will jump from the outside draw in the field of 18.
Duckworth confirmed the Melbourne Cup was the ultimate goal for Birdman and a victory in Saturday would cement his spot in Australia’s most famous race.
“(Owner) Ozzie Kheir bought him with that in mind,” Duckworth said.
“Even though we bought him last year we’ve always said we’d aim him for this year’s Cup. He needed to win a race this spring to get into the Cup and he’s done that now and if he can win this then he guarantees his shot at it.”
