A 2,400-metre race, The Metropolitan is a handicap race that is held every October.

The race takes place at Randwick Racecourse and is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, with the race time to be determined. But which of the horses is the pick to win the race?

Let’s take a look at some of them below…

Quick Picks

Our pick: Aethelwulf to win

Value bet: Soul of Spain each-way

Long shot: Juja Kibo each-way

Betting Preview

The prize purse for the 2026 The Metropolitan race stands at $750,000, making it a really attractive race for trainers and owners of eligible horses aged three years old and older.

It is no longer a Group 1 race, though, as it has been downgraded by the Asian Pattern Committee to Group 2 for this season.

It is raced over a distance of 2,400 metres, and has been since 2001. At this distance, it is the major long distance event in the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, which adds further appeal to the grandeur of the race.

The main form comparison is between The Euphrates’s 2,000m Randwick win and Aethelwulf’s 2,300m Newcastle Cup win.

The Euphrates has the stronger direct class reference from a Group 2 race at Randwick and documented European staying form; Aethelwulf has the more recent staying distance win and excellent momentum.

Neither profile removes the uncertainty. One is rising in trip after a long absence, while the other is relatively lightly raced and must prove his recent ratings against tougher opposition.

Betting Markets to Watch

Naturally, The Euphrates and Aethelwulf are both considered the main contenders in the 2026 The Metropolitan race because of the form they share.

Aethelwulf is a four-year-old who arrives on a four-race winning streak and won the 2300m Newcastle Gold Cup on September 18 by more than two lengths.

The Euphrates brings the strongest direct form-line among the early contenders. On September 19, he led throughout to win the 2000m Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick impressively, beating Juja Kibo, with Soul Of Spain third.

That performance followed his Australian comeback over a mile after a two-year break. 

His trainers, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, says he has European form over two miles, suggesting the 2400m should suit, although the longer trip and the demands of another quick turnaround are possible concerns.

Elsewhere, Soul of Spain could have potential as a value pick. He finished third behind The Euphrates in the Kingston Town, closing well after the winner had controlled the race from the front, suggesting he has the form and ability to compete.

Still, the biggest thing he’ll need to manage is the tempo and race shape.

Our Prediction

Check the latest horse racing betting odds at Sportsbet.

Our pick for the 2026 The Metropolitan is Aethelwulf, as he is the main horse in form and has a solid recent win under his belt.

We think he should have enough to beat The Euphrates, as there will be questions about the quick turnaround after a lengthy layoff at an increased distance.

Our long shot is Juja Kibo. Trained by Ciaron Maher at Warwick Farm, he was runner-up to The Euphrates in the 2,000m race, but the extra 400m could be too much.

He stayed well over 2km, but stamina and power will be the biggest questions around him. 

Maher, like Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, sits among the top Australian horse trainers worth following through the carnival.

If you are new to racing markets and weighing up win or each-way plays like these, our guide on how to bet on horses is a handy place to start.