The Metropolitan makes up one of three Group 1 races at Randwick on Saturday as a capacity field of stayers step out over the 2400m to earn a share in the $750,000 prize pool.
Chris Waller, who swept all four Group 1s across Melbourne and Sydney on Epsom Handicap Day last year, holds a strong hand in the race with Shared Ambition and Brimham Rocks both hoping to earn the champion trainer a Metropolitan hat-trick.
Trainer Kris Lees will be out to spoil the party with the favourite Mugatoo, while there’s also a case to be made for Hush Writer and Zebrowksi in the wide-open field.
With value from top to bottom, we’ve analysed each horse and our 2020 Metropolitan tips can be found below!
Mustajeer
Mustajeer is having his third run back from a spell and is tough to have based on recent form.
The eight-year-old war horse finished towards the rear of the field in both the Group 3 Premier Cup (1900m) and Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) over shorter and appears tested again carrying the top weight.
Mugatoo
Mugatoo can make it four wins in a row on Saturday as trainer Kris Lees chases his 17th Group 1 win.
The Irish import has been aimed at the Metropolitan after winning the Listed Winter Challenge at Rosehill back in July before resuming to win the Group 3 Premier Cup and the Newcastle Cup in his return to the races.
Mugatoo has been slapped with a 1kg weight penalty following his dominant win in Newcastle but still remains the $3.50 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au.
A win for McEvoy, who is set to carry 57kg, would set a new Metropolitan weight record as the champion hoop hopes to claim a share of the prize money for the first time.
The six-year-old has won over further throughout his lightly raced career and remains the horse to beat.
Mirage Dancer
Mirage Dancer strips fitter for his second-up run when fourth over the 2040m at The Valley in the Group 3 JRA Cup last Friday night.
The son of Frankel found the placings during the Autumn when racing on the short backup at Randwick and does look well-suited in this contest dropping 5kg from his last start.
The British raider put in a brave performance for fourth in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill over the same distance back in March and should settle somewhere towards midfield under Nash Rawiller, who won this race back in 2010 with Herculian Prince.
Wu Gok
Wu Gok has struggled to find his best form since winning back-to-back starts at Rosehill during the Winter Carnival.
The seven-year-old son of Sebring has drawn wide ahead of his third run back from a spell and, while he is a proven performer over this trip, looks tested with no chance of rain around at time of publish.
Raheen House
Raheen House looks to be the roughest of Kris Lees’ chances in the 2020 Metropolitan Stakes after finishing second last in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) three weeks ago behind Paths of Glory.
The seven-year-old Irish raider ran on well for third three runs back in the Sydney Cup, but remains a long shot at best from the wide draw.
Etah James
Etah James hasn’t been seen at the races since her unforgettable win in the 2020 Sydney Cup where she was paying 14-1.
The son of Raise the Flag trialled well on Tuesday under Regan Bayliss at Hawkesbury, but probably warrants further consideration later in her prep when she gets out over further.
Shared Ambition
Shared Ambition strips fitter for his third-up run when second to Taikomochi in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).
The Irish import found the line strongly after making up a stack of ground from a three-wide position, a performance James McDonald will need to replicate on Saturday from barrier 19.
The five-year-old has won previously in his fourth run back from a spell and rates a decent each-way chance with even luck.
Brimham Rocks
Brimham Rocks turned in an eye-catching run behind Taikomochi and Shared Ambition for third in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes, a performance he is sure to build on in his third run back from a spell.
Jockey Brenton Avdulla won this race last year with Come Play With Me, and it looks as though he’ll have a chance to run into the money again from out wide.
The seven-year-old son of Fastnet Rock ran second in this race back in 2018 and has each-way claims getting 3kg off from his last start.
Hush Writer
Hush Writer is more than capable of winning his first Group 1 if recent form is anything to go by.
The Japanese import has found the placings in back-to-back starts this time in, which includes a second to Mugatoo in last fortnight’s Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m).
Hush Writer actually won last year’s Newcastle Cup before running a disappointing eighth in the Metropolitan two weeks later, a result Tim Clark will be looking to make amends for.
With 3kg off from his last start and a nice alley, the pair can certainly figure.
Lord Belvedere
This is a significant step up in grade for Lord Belvedere, but he does warrant respect with three consecutive wins to his name.
The British import lifted to win narrowly first-up at Flemington in his last start and does get in light at the weights ahead of his first look at Randwick.
Stepping back to the 2400m is also a big plus.
Carif
Carif finished only three lengths behind Taikomochi in the Kingstown Town Stakes but does appear tested in this contest.
His racing pattern normally sees him get back and run on, which might see him surrender too big a lead in the end.
Rondinella
Rondinella is having her fourth run back from a spell after making up a ton of ground to finish fifth in the Kingston Town Stakes.
She won’t be without her supporters but is still tough to have from the wide gate.
Angel of Truth
Angel of Truth stormed the line for second behind Man of Peace in the Spring Preview Handicap (1400m) first-up but has struggled to find that same form in two runs since.
He has won previously over the 2400m though and could be one for the minors with last week’s Golden Rose Stakes winner Tommy Berry retaining the ride.
Azuro
Azuro is a proven stayer but is predicted to struggle from the wide gate.
It would take some serious improvement for him to come close.
Paths of Glory
Paths Of Glory won the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) first-up and was far from disgraced when fourth to Mugatoo in the Newcastle Cup.
The Freedman-trained six-year-old is a two-time winner over the distance and could be one for the exotics given the weight drop.
Girl Tuesday
Girl Tuesday is having her first run at Group 1 level for trainer Clarry Conners.
The mare by Street Cry has been thereabouts this prep with a runner-up performance in the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury first-up before two respectable runs at Group 3 level in the Premier Cup and the Kingston Town Stakes.
She should be doing her best work late under Glen Boss, but this remains a significant step up in class from a very awkward draw.
Miss Sentimental
Miss Sentimental is third-up from a spell but looks unlikely based on recent form.
The New Zealander has failed to finish inside the top ten in both runs this prep and is predicted to struggle from the wide draw under apprentice Jess Taylor.
Zebrowski
Zebrowski gained plenty of admirers with back-to-back runner up’s in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) during the Autumn.
The son of Savabeel struggled to reclaim that same form in his return to the races last month but did show huge improvement for fourth in the Group 3 Kingstown Town Stakes (2000m) a fortnight ago.
The Hawkes-trained gelding clearly has a turn of foot and he should appreciate the 5kg off under James McInnes Jr from the soft draw.
Norway
Norway will have his second look at Randwick on Saturday should he earn a spot as the first emergency.
The Chris Waller five-year-old has won over this distance previously back in Ireland but is tough to have in what will be a significant step up in class.
Attention Run
Attention Run finished two lengths second to Mugatoo in the Newcastle Cup and looks capable of running a race at odds.
He gets 4kg off from his last start and remains the second emergency.
Sir Charles Road
Sir Charles Road is a dual acceptor on Saturday and remains the third emergency in the 2020 Metropolitan Stakes.
Grey Lion
Grey Lion is set to race on the short backup after finishing third to Attorney in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill last week.
He has won previously over this track and distance but would find himself against much tougher competition if he were to make it on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Handicap Tip
2 Mugatoo at $2.80
