Birdman has drawn wide for Saturday’s Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m), but Chris Waller’s stable remains confident the stayer can overcome his barrier with a featherweight on his back.
The four-year-old will jump from gate 17 in the 18-horse field, though assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth insists the alley does little to dent his status as the yard’s leading chance.
Birdman showed his class two starts ago when fifth behind Lindermann in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) under 59kg before arriving late to claim the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) carrying 55kg. He now drops to just 51.5kg for the Metropolitan.
Duckworth is convinced the step up in trip will only enhance his credentials.
“He didn’t look out of place against proper weight-for-age horses in the Chelmsford and he shouldn’t have been doing that over a mile and 2000 metres,” Duckworth said.
“He was bought to win a 3200-metre race and he has been doing it over half the distance.
“I think he should still be favourite out of ours. The draw does make things harder but winning last start and the weights already being out and him not being able to be penalised for it, in theory he is so well in.
“If he was in The Bart Cummings in Melbourne he’d be carrying 58-1/2 kilos and he’s carrying 51-1/2. They’re both Group One handicaps so he is arguably seven-kilos well in.
“That’s why he deserves to be where he is in the market for us.”
Birdman is one of five Waller-trained runners in the Metropolitan, sitting alongside Soul Of Spain ($6) as joint favourite despite that runner also drawing wide in gate 11. Stablemates Travolta ($17) and Etna Rosso ($11) fared better with barriers one and two, while More Felons will jump from the outside gate as he continues his comeback from injury.
Duckworth confirmed the Melbourne Cup remains the primary spring target.
“(Owner) Ozzie Kheir bought him with that in mind,” Duckworth said.
“Even though we bought him last year we’ve always said we’d aim him for this year’s Cup. He needed to win a race this spring to get into the Cup and he’s done that now and if he can win this then he guarantees his shot at it.”
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