Waller Holds Metropolitan Key

The final of the three Group 1 races conducted at Randwick on Saturday sees the stayers tackle the G1 The Metropolitan (2400m). With only one Australian-bred stayer winning the race in the last eight years, it appears that this year's running won't be adding another, with only one of the 12 acceptors carrying the Aus suffix. Recording the first four home in the G3 Kingston Town S. (2000m) Sept. 16 with Libran (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), Antonio Giuseppe (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}), Life Less Ordinary (Ire) (Thewayouare {USA}) and Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}), Chris Waller's quartet are likely to play a large part in the finish on Saturday.

With four stakes wins at 2400m and above, it could be the outsider of the four, Who Shot Thebarman who could deliver the knockout blow after an unlucky run last start. Life Less Ordinary should appreciate the weight drop, and although yet to win at the trip, his last start effort to stick on for third after they went for home before the bend was solid and highlights his staying ability. While there is no reason that Libran and Antonio Giuseppe could not be right in the finish, their tough efforts last time out may have taken their toll, but Waller is a masterful trainer and it would be no surprise to see any of the four take the prize.

If there is a non-Waller runner with some chance, it could be the lightly weight Foundry (Ire) (Galileo) {Ire}). With only two runs back from an 11-month break, the second of Robert Hickmott's pair has a sense of timing about him and with a second to Telescope (Ire) in the G2 Voltigeur S. at his second ever race start, the 6-year-old does have some appeal. With three consecutive stakes wins in the Autumn over 2400m (twice) and 2600m, before a third over 3200m in the G1 Sydney Cup, Darren Weir's Big Duke (Ire) (Raven's Pass) looks capable of giving his Darley-based sire his first elite level winner.