The Richard Freedman trained top weight Auvray has drawn nicely at barrier two in the capacity field for the 2018  Group 1 $750,000 Heineken 3 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Auvray, above, has drawn barrier 2 in the capacity field in The Metropolitan at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Auvray, above, has drawn barrier 2 in the capacity field in The Metropolitan at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Auvray will have to carry 57kg with Tye Angland sticking with the eight year old after he ran a courageous race with 59.5kg on his back when second to Carzoff in the Group 3 $200,000 Sharp Electronics Group Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) at Newcastle on September 14.

Premiership winning trained Chris Waller will saddle up eight of the eighteen runners in the Metropolitan with several international imports among his contingent.

Waller’s runners are Libran (barrier 16), Patrick Erin (4), Alward (1), Brimham Rocks (15), The Lord Mayor (7), High Bridge (3), Opposition (19) and Jake’s Hill (11).

Gai Waterhouse will be striving to win her first Metropolitan with co-trainer Adrian Bott, but her overall fifth, with Sedanzer, after collecting the winning trophy with Coco Cobanna (2000), Dress Circle (2001), Herculian Prince (2010) and Glencadam Gold (2012).

Tim Clark rides Sedanzer who has drawn barrier five and co-trainer Adrian Bott said he was happy to forget the mare’s last start unplaced run when eleventh to Avilius in the Group 3 $160,000 The Agency Real Estate Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 15.

“She has got a much favourable draw. Last start from the wide alley we just had to go back, a bit further back than we would like to and was forced to make a long sustained run which didn’t suit her,” Bott said.

“With that kind of draw today she is going to be a lot closer than we were last start.”

“She is probably one of the most genuine mares we have got in the stable. She gives it all every time.”

“Second up she probably just raced a little bit flat from that first up run which I thought was an enormous run.”

“Stretching out in trip now I think she is really looking for it.”

Final field for the 2018 Metropolitan (2400m)

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 7x56164x52 AUVRAY (FR) Richard Freedman Tye Angland 2 57kg 109
2 021443×005 BIG DUKE (IRE) Darren Weir Brenton Avdulla 8 56.5kg 107
3 28x420x837 LIBRAN (IRE) Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 16 56kg 107
4 x6248x220x WALL OF FIRE (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace James McDonald 10 54.5kg 104
5 22x9131x40 SEDANZER Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 5 53kg 104
6 3114656×64 PATRICK ERIN (NZ) Chris Waller Corey Brown 4 51kg 97
7 36164x0x02 MIDTERM (GB) Liam Howley Michael Dee 17 50.5kg 96
8 4x32267x39 ALWARD (IRE) Chris Waller Kathy O’Hara 1 50.5kg 95
9 419337×351 MISS ADMIRATION Mick Price Dean Holland 9 50kg 92
10 021x22x332 BRIMHAM ROCKS (GB) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 15 50kg 100
11 43462L1x33 SIN TO WIN (NZ) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Dean Yendall 12 50kg 93
12 416400×011 THE LORD MAYOR (NZ) Chris Waller Jay Ford 7 50kg 85
13 7433923×39 NETTOYER Wendy Roche 14 50kg 88
14 111×512703 JUST SHINE (NZ) Clare Cunningham Alysha Collett 13 50kg 87
15 3x7x521134 SIKANDARABAD (IRE) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Jye McNeil 6 50kg 86
16 19x31x0x11 HIGH BRIDGE (GB) Chris Waller Craig Williams 3 50kg 72
17 424x02x675 OPPOSITION (GB) Chris Waller Andrew Adkins 19 50kg 74
18 134x74x978 JAKE’S HILL (GB) Chris Waller Yusuke Ichikawa 11 50kg 74
19e 32230×0259 ROMANESQUE (IRE) Jarrod McLean Fred W Kersley (a) 18 50kg 73

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.