The final race of the day, the third Group 1 on the program and, the feature race for the stayers is the Metropolitan Handicap. Gai Waterhouse won this race last year with Glencadam Gold and this year, she’ll be relying on Julienas ($8.00) and Dana’s Best ($34.00) to make it back-to-back victories. Early favourite is Prince Cheri $4.00 – winner of his past two starts just in advance of one of Chris Waller’s three runners, Moriarty – also a last start winner at $4.50. It has been a race that has thrown up some rough results for punters in recent years. Newport ($41), The Verminator ($21) and Herculian Prince ($21) have been three winners in the past five years that have blown punters out.
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1. MOURAYAN – K McEvoy (14)
A grand old campaigner, he always runs well here at Randwick where, from five starts, he has claimed the G1 Sydney Cup and the G3 Cranven Plate. You couldn’t have asked anymore from him first up when seventh (beaten 3.6 lengths) behind Foreteller in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. That run was a month ago now and this race, second up, from the wide gate, might be a big ask.
2. MORIARTY – G Schofield (1)
Former import that has just kept improving this year and during the winter; claimed the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) before, two starts later, taking out the G2 Brisbane Cup with a big finish under 58kgs, defeating Quintessential by a length. He signalled he is back to his best with a strong last start win in the G2 Hill Stakes (2000m) under 59kgs last start. That was his third run back from a break and this race, where he drops to 56.5kgs, fourth up looks ideal. Will look the winner at some stage in the straight.
3. SEVILLE – J Bowman (9)
Returned from an injury enforced eleven month break by running last in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) before an improved effort, despite finishing last again in the G2 Dato’tan Chin Nam (1600m) when finishing only 3.4 lengths from winner Fiorente. He backed that up a week later in the Naturalism Sakes (2000m) and from an inside gate, camped on the speed but wasn’t able to go with the leaders when the sprint went on and he finished six lengths behind Mr. O’Ceirin. A drop to 55.5kgs and a step up to a true staying test here, could see a sharp improvement.
4. JULIENAS – T Berry (13)
He had been very good at each of his three runs back from a spell leading into last week’s victory in the G3 Colin Stephen Quality. The 7yo was able to dictate the pace to his six competitors from the outset and proved too strong in the run to the line, winning by length under 59kgs. Comes down to a luxury weight of 55kgs here and has been in solid form however, this is the toughest race he’s taken on this time in and his two attempts behind G3 company in the past, have resulted in last place finishes in the Sydney Cup and Chairman’s Quality.
5. SNEAK A PEEK – (11)
First of Peter Moody’s two runners, this 6yo has had three runs back from a ten month spell and indicated in the two most recent, that he may be a place chance here. He had every chance in the run behind Hawkspur in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) before, at his most recent start a fortnight ago in the G2 Hill Stakes, he batted away fairly in the run home to run fourth, 1.7 lengths from Moriarty. He drops down from 59 to 54.5kgs here and fourth up last prep, after similar lead-up form, ran eighth (beaten 4.4 lengths) by Dunaden in last year’s Caulfield Cup.
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6. IBICENCO – (12)
Stable-mate to Sneak a Peak he was an unexpected winner first up off a eight week spell, when sneaking home along the fence to win the Listed Slickpix (1700m) at 50/1, defeating Mr. O’Ceirin. It was Mr. O’Ceirin coincidentally, that led and stacked them in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) where Ibicenco got back to the tail of the field and in a sit and sprint race, was unable to pick up the leaders. He was only warming up late and given a dry track, is capable of figuring in the finish.
7. PRINCE CHERI – J Ford (2)
Lightly raced 5yo who has won four of his six races overall and three from four races since coming to Australia from France. He sat on the speed and was too good for Eigelstein in a BM 95 (1500m) and backed that up with another strong win in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes, defeating Honorius and Julienas (who has won since.) Drawn to get a lovely run again but meets some seasoned stayer’s here and will need to improve again off of last start to be winning here. Wouldn’t be rushing in to take the $4.00 just yet.
8. IRONSTEIN – B Avdulla (3)
An 8yo who lines up for start number fifty-five but, as he has demonstrated by his recent efforts, he is still enjoying his racing. Third up from a spell he went within a head of claiming the listed Premier’s Cup (1800m) when second to Less Is More before, at his most recent start, grinding home – with 59kgs – to run fifth (beaten 1.9 lengths) behind Moriarty. Meets Moriarty 4kgs better in this race and ran fourth in this race in 2011, at 20/1. Similar price again this year and could produce a similar effort.
9. PEAL OF BELLS – SCRATCHED
10. I’M IMPOSING – P Robl (10)
8yo trained by Chris Waller who had been off the scene for two years when resuming in August of this year. Not much was expected of him first up but in three subsequent runs, the Danehill Dancer gelding has showed steady improvement in line with his races being over longer trips. He finished fifth behind Prince Cheri in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) and was home steadily in the G3 Colin Stephens (2400m) last week, running second (beaten 2 lengths) behind Julienas. Would imagine fitter again but hard at the weights, to see him turning the tables on Julienas and a few others here.
11. LUCRIPETOUS – J Cassidy (2)
It looks like this 5yo by Pentire is starting to deliver on the promise shown early in his career. He broke through three starts back (only his third win from 20 starts) to record a comfortable victory in a BM 84 (2600m) and immediately backed that up with another strong win over 2200m in a BM 90 race. He then tried his luck in the G3 Newcastle Cup and got a long way back (too far back) before closing well late to run Winning Glory to a head. Will stay all day but needs to prove himself at this level first.
12. SAINT ENCOSTA – T Bell (4)
Another who participated in the G3 Newcastle Cup at his most recent start and who also got a long way back before closing late to run sixth, beaten 2.2 lengths. His last two wins have both come in Brisbane over 2000m and 2200m and it’s hard to see him founding the improvement needed to be prominent here.
13. KINGDOMS – (8)
John O’Shea trains this son of High Chaparral who competed well in some of the 3yo staying features last season. He ran third in the ATC Derby behind It’s A Dundeel and closed well late for third again in the G3 Frank Packer Plate. He resumed his racing two starts ago with little luck in a BM 95 (1500m) race and should’ve finished close than he did (ran tenth, beaten 6.1 lengths) to Prince Cheri. He then only got warm late in G2 Hill Stakes when sixth to Moriarty. The trip should hold no fears for him and with a light weight, would like to see him put into the race a little earlier than he has been in the past.
14. DANA’S BEST – N Berry (6)
A progressive stayer that, via winning three BM races on the trot, started favourite in the G3 Newcastle Cup a fortnight ago. A solid tempo and tougher grade saw the Gai Waterhouse trained runner finished seventh, 2 ½ lengths from winner, Winning Glory and Lucripetous. Not a bad effort given it was his first go in Group company but not good enough to suggest that he could win a Group 1 at his next start.
15. PLANET PURPLE – (15)
After several failed attempts, the 7yo by Universal Prince finally gained some black type by finishing third last week in the G3 Colin Stephen (2400m). He was sent out an 80/1 chance and after settling handy to the speed, stuck on well enough to finish 3 ½ lengths from Julienas. Wouldn’t think he’d be able to replicate that kind of performance two weeks in a row.
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OVERVIEW
As stated at the top of the preview, this race hasn’t been kind to favourites in recent years and that could be the case again here. You can’t do more than win but, Prince Cheri has had every chance at each of his runs this time in and not sure if the form out of them is worthy of him winning a Group 1. Going with Ibienco each way provided it’s a good track. First up run was a beauty and you can put a pen through last start where he got back in a leader dominated race on surface he does not appreciate. He’s won the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) and ran fourth to Kelinni in the G3 Lexus (2500m) last year. With 53.5kgs, would be expecting him to be finishing well. Moriarty the next best, he put the writing on the wall last start finishing strongly over the 2000m of the Hill Stakes and fourth up, here looks ideal. Especially with the recent memory of his strong G2 Brisbane Cup win with 58kgs. Going down the list to Lucripetous and Kingdoms for the placings. Both are young stayers still with their best to come. With light weights, they should be put into the race earlier than they have been and are more than capable of sticking on.
- MORIARTY
- IBICENCO
- LUCRIPETOUS
- KINGDOMS