Preview – Gr 1 The Metropolitan

Is crying out for a wet track. Led all the ay to win the 3200m Brisbane Cup, led all the way to win the 3200m Sydney Cup, has run 3rd in a Caulfield Cup all on damp tracks. Led by run over by Just Fine last start and meets him 5kg worse off. Only hope is if wet.

Good type who has won up to 2000m and placed at 2100m. Two starts back looked smart on soft track winning Chelmsford Stakes over a mile but then was very easily beaten by Just Fine in the 2000m Kingston Town. Place show.

Former English stayer who has yet to run a place in 4 races since coming to Australia. Did make up a lot of ground from the back when beaten 4 lengths in Newcastle Cup. But this is harder.

Tough stayer who races well here. On a very heavy track outstayed them all to win the Gr 1 ATC Derby over 2400m. Spelled after that and best since was 2nd here to Navajo Peak in Gr 2 Chelmsford over a mile. Well beaten by stablemate Just Fine last start and meets him 1.5kg worse off.

Had been in good form then in the Newcastle Cup, got right back and although plugged away making ground late for 6th in record run race, he looked a bit one-paced. Place show.

Won the Gr 1 VRC Derby as a 3YO fin wishing brilliantly over 2500m but in 5 starts since hasn’t fired a shot. Not keen.

When he goes forward and finds the front early he is a strong, hard to beat stayer at this level. Last 4 starts: 2nd in Tatts Cup; 3rd in Grafton Cup; 3rd in Wyong Cup and last start run down on the line when leading and 2nd in the Gr 3 Newcastle Cup. Bound to be there again.

Form recently reads poorly but is just coming back to best form. Beaten 2 lengths last start in Open hip at the Valley won by Young Werther carrying 60kg. Was only a length behind Future History that day and meets him 3kg better.

Last win was in may when came home hard from well back in good time to claim the Gr 3 Chairman’s Hcp at Eagle Farm. Lost rider in Wyong Cup when heavily backed then last start made up enormous ground late when beaten 3 lengths in the Newcastle Cup. Ready to produce now.

Can stay but isn’t racing well enough at present. Ran 14th of 16 in the Newcastle Cup last start.

Can mix his form but when he’s on he is hard to beat. Is trained here and did chase Just Fine home when 2nd, beaten 2 lengths, in very fast time over 2000m in the Gr 3 Kingston Town. Drops 5kg here.

In form tough stayer who got back to about 6th early and just finished too hard late to narrowly claim the Gr 3 Newcastle Cup last start over 2300m. Drops 4kg here and is a stablemate of the raging fav Just Fine. Place show.

Super talented. Will lead and with this weight will kick away when they turn. Should win easily.

Tough stayer on the quick back up from last week when narrowly beaten in the 2400m Colin Stephen in quick time. Drops 4.5kg here and is very fit. Place hope.

English galloper who is racing in career best form since coming to Australia. On speed when way too good at the Valley over 2040m in open staying race then run down on the line by Young Werther same venue last start. Likes to get up on the steel and may make this fav work with this weight.

Tough stayer from Ireland with form there this trip. Last start ran on well when 4th in BM 88 at Rosehill over 1900m. Will appreciate this trip a lot more.

Is the best of the light weight hopes to beat this rampaging favourite. Can stay all day and is in peak form. Won over 2200m in weaker grade carrying 58.5kg looking very strong. Then up to this level when under 54kg ran on for a game 5th in the Newcastle Cup over 2300m in record time. Drops another 4kg here. Have in your numbers.