The Group 1 The Metropolitan, run over 2400m at Randwick, is the premier staying handicap race of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
Last year’s The Metropolitan was won by the Chris Waller-trained Land Legend, ridden by Reece Jones. Land Legend went on to finish third in the Caulfield Cup.
Only four The Metropolitan winners have gone on to win the Caulfield Cup two weeks later. The most recent was Tawqeet in 2006. Five have won the Melbourne Cup in the same campaign, but not since Macdougal in 1959.
The Metropolitan 2025 Preview and Details
Track: Randwick.
Distance/type: 2400m. Handicap.
Date: Saturday, 4 October.
Total prize money: $750,000
First prize: $430,000
The Metropolitan – Race and Time: Race 9 (4.45 pm)
Weather and Track
The Randwick track was rated a Soft 5 on Wednesday. The BOM is predicting fine and warm weather for the rest of the week. Bet on a Good surface.
The rail is true. The most recent Randwick meeting (Good 4) was on September 20 when the rail was out 7m (1600m-post) and out 4m (remainder). The track played fair. With fresh ground on the rail, play for a slight on-pace rails bias.
The Trainers
Two trainers dominate the 2025 The Metropolitan with 10 of the 17 starters between them. It’s the usual suspects, Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher.
Waller, who has trained six The Metropolitan winners – four in the past seven years – has five runners headed by three of the favourites, Birdman, Etna Rosso and Soul Of Spain. Maher, chasing his first The Metropolitan win, also has five to represent him. His leading chances are last-start winner Piggyback, Royal Supremacy and lightweight hope Jujo Kibo.
The Metropolitan is a special race for Gai Waterhouse. Her first Group 1 win was when Te Akau Nick won in 1992. Since then she has added another seven The Metrops to her tally. She and partner Adrian Bott saddle the topweight Vauban.
John O’Shea (now trained with Tom Charlton) has won two The Metropolitans. He will be represented by Athabascan. The other past winners are Kris Lees (Changingoftheguard) and New Zealander Bruce Wallace (Son Of Sun) with one each. Lees trained County Tyrone to win in 2004 and Wallace’s win was way back in 1991 with Lord Revenir. In an interesting sidebar, Wallace now trains in partnership with Lord Revenir’s winning jockey, Grant Cooksley.
The Jockeys
Grant Cooksley, who won three The Metropolitans as a jockey – Glastonbury (1994), Lord Revenir (1991 and Donegal Mist (1990) – is now co-trainer of 2025 The Metrop contender Son Of Sun.
Only three jockeys with a ride this year have won a The Metropolitan.
Last year Reece Jones won on Land Legend. This year, he’s riding Juja Kibo for Ciaron Maher. Tommy Berry (More Felons) is chasing his third The Metropolitan, the most recent on No Compromise in 2022. Rachel King (Arapaho) won on Just Fine in 2023.
Incredibly, Birdman’s jockey Kerrin McEvoy, despite an outstanding record winning staying races, including three Melbourne Cups, is yet to add a The Metropolitan to his extensive CV. Last year’s Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, Robbie Dolan, rides Royal Supremacy.
The Speed Map
Tempo prediction: good to fast
With 10 of the 17 starters weighted on the limit of 50kg, expect some of those jockeys to take advantage of the light weight by going forward to make it a true staying test. However, they might have a task headed Changingoftheguard who stretched out his rivals with a bold front-running performance to win the Tatts Cup over this course and distance. Other go-forward horses are Glory Daze, Travolta, Jujo Kibo and Sun ‘N’ Sand.
Expect Etna Rosso to get a nice midfield run on the inside. Soul Of Spain, Royal Supremacy and Vauban will be looking for a run with cover, but Birdman, because of a wide draw, might have to go back early. Sydney Cup winner, Arapaho, will relish a solid tempo.
Point of Interest
Weighted to win: Birdman carries only 51.5kg. He won the Kingston Town at his most recent start carrying 55kg and was fifth in the Chelmsford with 59kg.
Carry that weight: Vauban (58.5kg) and Arapaho (58kg) have to break a modern day weight-carrying record to win. Since 2000, the heaviest winning weight was 56.5 when County Tyrone won in 2004. The most recent horse to win with more weight was Ming Dynasty (59.5kg) in 1978.
The Metropolitan 2025 Racing Tips
The Metropolitan Top Tip
Etna Rosso
Although he hasn’t won since the 2024 Newcastle Cup, his recent form is solid. Second with 56.5kg in the Brisbane Cup (3200m) in June and a last start fast-finishing third behind stablemate Birdman in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m). He drops 6kg.His recent sectional times suggest he’s at the top of his game.
The Metropolitan Dangers
Birdman
Drew barrier one when he had to fight off a late challenge to win the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick two weeks ago. Drops from 55kg to 51.5kg. Has a touch of class, but won’t get as cosy a run from barrier 16.
Vauban
He was disappointing when sixth behind Birdman in the Kingston Town two weeks ago. Reports from the stable are that he’s worked brilliantly and will be fitter. Needs to carry the weight, but he’s the class horse in the right stable.
Arapaho
Grand performer who belies his age, now nine. Won the Sydney Cup carrying 56kg in April. Good run in the Kingston Town Stakes. Some rain might help his chances, but he’s better than most of these.
Changingoftheguard
Hard not to be impressed by his all-the-way win in the Tatts Cup over this course and Trip. Ran along in front and fought them off. Drops 59kg to 54.5kg. Likely to attempt to make it a staying test again.
The Metropolitan Roughies
Juja Kibo
Promising stayer from Ireland. Trainer Ciaron Maher rates him highly and he’s got into this race on the limit weight.
Travolta
From barrier one, expect him to be tracking the speed in a perfect position to pounce. Very good in the Tatts Cup and then worked on the pace when a close third in the Newcastle Cup.
The Metropolitan Same Race Multi (pick a combination)
Etna Rosso & Birdman – top three
Vauban & Arapaho – top four
Changingoftheguard – top five
Jujo Kibo & Travolta – top six