Just Fine is approaching odds-on territory in The Metropolitan 2023 betting for the staying feature at Royal Randwick this weekend.

Just Fine heads The Metropolitan 2023 betting at Randwick this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

The flying Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained import chases his fourth consecutive win and his third from as many starts down under when he lines up as the hot favourite in Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) on Epsom Handicap Day.

The Metropolitan field has drawn 18 final acceptors and Sea The Stars six-year-old Just Fine leads the markets at a current quote of $2 through Ladbrokes.

At his latest start at the track on September 16 he carried 55kg to a 1.71 length win in the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).

He comes back to the 50kg minimum this weekend drawn barrier two with Rachel King coming back aboard after she rode him to victory two back for his successful Australian race debut on September 2 over the Randwick mile in a Benchmark 94.

Waterhouse & Bott launch a four-pronged attack on The Metropolitan in 2023 with the hot favourite joined by stablemates Knights Order ($51) who carries the 57.5kg top-weight, the autumn’s Group 1 ATC Derby winner over the mile-and-a-half Major Beel ($13) in gate four with Tim Clark to ride, and the widely-drawn Military Mission ($21) coming off a Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) victory a fortnight back.

Following Just Fine in The Metropolitan betting meanwhile are the John O’Shea-trained Wyong Gold Cup winner Benaud drawn the rails whose last run was a second in the Kingston Town and Chris Waller’s progressive European import Mr Waterville both at $11 at time of publish.

Waller is another trainer who plays a strong hand in The Metropolitan numbers-wise this spring saddling-up four runners in total as he chases his sixth victory.

Waller has prepared five previous The Metropolitan Handicap winners including No Compromise (2022) last year.

Along with Mr Waterville his other chances this season are Manzoice ($26), Al Aabir ($17), and Wineglass Bay ($51).

Other notable final acceptors chasing an upset include the Kris Lees-trained Irish import Cleveland and consistent grey Bois D’argent for Annable Neasham.

The Metropolitan serves as a key lead-up to Melbourne’s Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21 and is joined on Saturday’s Randwick card by the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) and the Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) for the fillies.

2023 The Metropolitan Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.