Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller will saddle up four of the twelve runners in the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Libran, above, is one of four Chris Waller trained stayers in The Metropolitan at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Libran, above, is one of four Chris Waller trained stayers in The Metropolitan at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Last start Kingston Town Stakes winner Libran and veteran stayer Who Shot Thebarman share the top weight of 57kg with both coming up with inside barriers.

Libran drew barrier three with Glyn Schofield to ride again after the pair combined for a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 16 while Hugh Bowman finds himself back aboard Who Shot Thebarman who will jump from gate two.

Stablemate Antonio Giuseppe has also drawn in close at barrier four with Hong Kong’s leading jockey Joao Moreira to ride while the last of the Waller runners, Life Less Ordinary with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle will jump from barrier eleven.

Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir will saddle up two runners in The Metropolitan, Big Duke from barrier six for Brenton Avdulla and Loresho from barrier ten.

Big Duke has been struggling to find his best form of late but jockey Brenton Avdulla is confident the six year old can turn that around following his last start tenth to Harlem in the Group 3 $150,000 Bendigo Bank East Malvern MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday.

“I am looking forward to riding him,” Avdulla said.

“He is four runs in on a quick back up for one of the premier trainers in the world.”

“He has run well at the track (Randwick) and he has got some good form against some of the best stayers in the country. He is a Sydney winner, a Sydney Cup placegetter. He won the race before so looking forward to partnering him.”

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable had no hesitation in backing up Broadside Saturday to Saturday after the front running stayer went down narrowly when third behind Auvray and Admiral Jello in last week’s Group 3 $150,000 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill.

“He pulled up super,” Bott said.

“A few runs on the board, Newcastle Cup back up into Saturday and backing up into this Saturday.”

“Quite a bit of racing but we felt that he had to get the miles into his legs and we preferred that option as opposes to going third up into The Metropolitan.”

“He has come through that in good order and hasn’t had to do too much this week and will be ready to fire on Saturday.”

Final Field for the 2017 The Metropolitan (2400m)

# Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 2x8746Px61 LIBRAN (IRE) Chris Waller Glyn Schofield 3 57kg 108
2 55x3642x94 WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 2 57kg 108
3 31×9763415 DESTINY’S KISS Joseph Pride Jason Collett 7 55.5kg 105
4 0x0D71x000 AMRALAH (IRE) Robert Hickmott 12 55kg 104
5 121113×550 BIG DUKE (IRE) Darren Weir Brenton Avdulla 6 55kg 104
6 2x1240x542 ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (NZ) Chris Waller Joao Moreira 4 54.5kg 103
7 1x37301x37 CHOCANTE (NZ) Stephen Marsh Corey Brown 1 54.5kg 103
8 x65123x813 BROADSIDE (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 9 52kg 98
9 41x122x253 LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 11 51kg 96
10 x830x33x24 FOUNDRY (IRE) Robert Hickmott 8 50.5kg 95
11 213×009435 LORESHO (FR) Darren Weir 10 50kg 92
12 0250942213 MY DIAMANTINE (NZ) Brian Smith Andrew Spinks 5 50kg 88

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.