The Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) is one of three Group 1 features at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with 18 stayers set to battle it out for the $750,000 prize.
The Chris Waller camp have eight possible runners set to line up in the classic handicap, including Land Legend being installed as the $6.00 favourite with horse racing bookmakers.
The son of Galileo is coming through a luckless effort in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) behind Eliyass and should get every opportunity to make amends stepping up in trip from barrier seven.
Stable companion and Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) winner First Light is on the second line of betting at $7.00 on the one-week backup after last Saturday’s victory, while Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) winner Etna Rosso is being respected at the $9.00 quote.
One of the key chances that needs multiple scratchings to make the final field comes in the form of Unusual Legacy ($8.00), who could be a live chance with 50kg on his back after securing barrier four.
The Ciaron Maher barn brings a strong contingent to this contest, with Melbourne raiders Berkshire Breeze ($8.00) and Future History ($9.00) set to make the trip north.
As will the team Hayes-trained Que Tempesta ($15.00), with Lindsay Park connections needing to decide as to whether they run here or in the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on the same day.
The 2024 Metropolitan Handicap should be a genuinely run affair thanks to the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained pair of Serpentine ($11.00) and Military Mission ($21.00), giving some of the light-weighted swoopers a chance to come into play.
Meanwhile, the James Cummings-trained Zardozi ($11.00) will be looking to recapture her best form as Zac Lloyd takes the reins from barrier 10, bolstered by the chance of favourable Soft conditions at Randwick.
2024 The Metropolitan Final Field
1. Kalapour (22)
- T: Kris Lees
- J: Nash Rawiller
- W: 57kg
- F: 84×31
- Age: 8YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: War Command (USA)
- Dam: Kaladena (IRE)
+825
2. Military Mission (1)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Regan Bayliss
- W: 55.5kg
- F: 99×86
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Grey
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Mastercraftsman (IRE)
- Dam: Atlantic Isle (GER)
+625
3. Serpentine (18)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Tim Clark
- W: 55kg
- F: 4×404
- Age: 8YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Galileo (IRE)
- Dam: Remember When (IRE)
+200
4. Que Tempesta (12)
- T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 54.5kg
- F: 65×11
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Territories (IRE)
- Dam: Tipperary Boutique (IRE)
+400
5. Alegron (5)
- T: Bjorn Baker
- J: Rachel King
- W: 54kg
- F: 7×212
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Teofilo (IRE)
- Dam: Alegria
+825
6. Cleveland (19)
- T: Kris Lees
- J: Dylan Gibbons
- W: 54kg
- F: 800×1
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Camelot (GB)
- Dam: Venus de Milo (IRE)
+1750
7. Athabascan (9)
- T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
- J: Jason Collett
- W: 54kg
- F: 08×24
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Almanzor (FR)
- Dam: Alzubra (GB)
+500
8. Trust In You (14)
- T: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley
- J: Tom Sherry
- W: 53kg
- F: 036×6
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Swynesse
- Dam: Shinko Bay (NZ)
+5000
9. El Bodegon (17)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: TBC
- W: 52.5kg
- F: 08×60
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Kodiac (GB)
- Dam: Al Andalyya (USA)
+2500
10. Zardozi (10)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Zac Lloyd
- W: 52kg
- F: 566×2
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Kingman (GB)
- Dam: Chanderi (GB)
+250
11. Future History (3)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: TBC
- W: 51.5kg
- F: 23×65
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Showcasing (GB)
- Dam: Likelihood (USA)
+175
12. Star Of India (6)
- T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
- J: Alysha Collett
- W: 51.5kg
- F: 0x0x1
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Galileo (IRE)
- Dam: Shermeen (IRE)
+2500
13. Etna Rosso (13)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Kerrin McEvoy
- W: 51.5kg
- F: 1513x
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Decorated Knight (GB)
- Dam: Kirouna (FR)
+200
14. Land Legend (7)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: TBC
- W: 51kg
- F: 60x1x
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Galileo (IRE)
- Dam: Landikusic (IRE)
+125
15. First Light (2)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: TBC
- W: 50kg
- F: 1440x
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Dubawi (IRE)
- Dam: Anzhelika (IRE)
+150
16. Manzoice (16)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: TBC
- W: 50kg
- F: 32×02
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Almanzor (FR)
- Dam: Choice (NZ)
+350
17. Berkshire Breeze (15)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: TBC
- W: 50kg
- F: 32111
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Grey
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Mastercraftsman (IRE)
- Dam: Bright And Shining (IRE)
+175
18. Wyclif (20)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: TBC
- W: 50kg
- F: 2270x
- Age: 8YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Archipenko (USA)
- Dam: Altruiste (GB)
+625
19. Immediacy (1E) (21)
- T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
- J: Jett Stanley
- W: 50kg
- F: 76×55
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Tarzino (NZ)
- Dam: But Beautiful (IRE)
+350
20. Strathtay (2E) (11)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: TBC
- W: 50kg
- F: 33154
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Preferment (NZ)
- Dam: Miss Remington
+1250
21. Unusual Legacy (3E) (11)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: TBC
- W: 50kg
- F: 213×1
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Unusual Suspect (USA)
- Dam: Celtic Legacy (NZ)
+175
22. Matusalem (4E) (8)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: TBC
- W: 50kg
- F: 11015
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: The Autumn Sun
- Dam: Miss Dodwell
+1250
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