The Metropolitan

The Metropolitan

Group One Betting Guide
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Location: Royal Randwick Racecourse – Sydney, New South Wales
Prize Money: $750,000
Distance: 2400m

The Metropolitan is run in October and is one of the key meets of the spring in the harbour city.

The premier staying race during the Sydney spring carnival, has a history of past runners who have gone on to perform highly in the bigger Melbourne spring carnival races later in the year. Two winners won the Caulfield Cup at their following start which should give punters a good insight.

Dominated by European imports in recent years, punters take serious notice of The Metropolitan which makes the Randwick feature a must-watch. It is a proven Cups form guide and the openness of the race makes betting on it worthwhile.


2024 The Metropolitan betting odds

Odds for the 2024 Metropolitan are currently unavailable.


Best bookmakers for The Metropolitan

Given the popularity of The Metropoltan, bookmakers open markets around July/August with the spring carnival firmly in mind.

Spring carnival races are the most popular with Australian and offshore bettors, so the bookies know the importance of not only getting the market up, but also offering the best odds.

Our recommended bookmakers offer the best odds in Australia and the promotions available are great value. Bonus bets and money back specials will be offered on all Metropolitan fixed odds bets.

United States Sport Table

Sport Table


Latest News for The Metropolitan

No Compromise
No Compromise will bid to add a home Group One title to match his Australian efforts when he opens the ...
Herbert Power Stakes attracts 10 Caulfield Cup hopefuls
The Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes will offer the final golden ticket into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup, with the ...
Just Fine just gets there in cracking finish to Metropolitan
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott and Rachel King have combined with Just Fine to take out the Group 1 Metropolitan ...
Randwick full racing tips
The Group 1 Espom Handicap (1600m) headlines the ten-race program at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Check out HorseBetting's free race-by-race ...
Just Fine demolishes rivals in Kingston Town Stakes
Just Fine ($3.20) has justified favourtism in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes, going on to score a dominant victory ...
NSW horse racing news
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Military Mission ($16.00) bounded over the top late in the day to score in ...

The Metropolitan betting guide

Patrick Erin was a double-figure winner in The Metropolitan in 2018 for Chris Waller.

The best guide is to back the imported runners. They have an incredible record in the race and that’s largely due to the timing of the race.

Imported stayers have become more frequent in Sydney over time and they have dominated The Metropolitan in past runnings.

Imported European stayer Sir John Hawkwood tasted success in 2016 and after four previous trainers in both Europe and Australia, the eight-year-old was able to run best over the staying distance of 2400m.

Only three favourites have won in the last 13 years (Just Fine, Magic Hurricane, Glencadam Gold) and there has been six double-figure winners in that stretch too. Five of the last 13 favourites have failed to place which isn’t encouraging for favourites punters.

There have been some champion runners suffer defeat in the 2400m feature. Melbourne Cup-winning Doriemus finished second as the $2 favourite and fellow Melbourne Cup winner Saintly finished third as the $2.10 favourite. That shows that The Metropolitan is a great form guide to races later in the Melbourne spring carnival.


2024 The Metropolitan Final Field

HorseBetting will update this page when the 2024 Metropolitan final field is released.


Previous The Metropolitan Fields

Plenty of staying stars of the racing scene have won The Metropolitan. Check the previous fields of The Metrop here.

  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks Knights Order Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 6 57.5kg
    2 Silks Navajo Peak David Payne Chad Schofield 15 55.5kg
    3 Silks Cleveland Kris Lees Damien Olver 13 54.5kg
    4 Silks Major Beel Gai Waterhouse & Damien Oliver Tim Clark 5 54.5kg
    5 Silks Bois D’argent Annabel Neasham Dylan Gibbons 10 53.5kg
    6 Silks Hosier Mark Minervini Jason Collett 17 53kg
    7 Silks Manzoice Chris Waller Michael Dee 7 53kg
    8 Silks Spirit Ridge Annabel Neasham Regan Bayliss 14 52.5kg
    9 Silks Ho Ho Khan Mitchell Freedman Tahlia Hope 12 52.5kg
    10 Silks Kalapour Kris Lees Kerrin McEvoy 3 52.5kg
    11 Silks Torrens Marc Chevalier Jenny Duggan 11 52kg
    12 Silks Benaud John O’Shea Jamie Kah 1 51.5kg
    13 Silks Military Mission Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Zac Lloyd 18 51.5kg
    14 Silks Just Fine Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Rachel King 2 50kg
    15 Silks Al Aabir Chris Waller Jay Ford 8 50kg
    16 Silks Future History Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Dean Yendall 16 50kg
    17 Silks Mr Waterville Chris Waller Tyler Schiller 9 50kg
    18 Silks Wineglass Bay Chris Waller Kathy O’Hara 4 50kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Stockman Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 4 56.5kg
    2 Le Don De Vie Ciaron Maher & David Eustace James McDonald 3 56kg
    3 Kukeracha Chris Waller Brenton Avdulla 1 55kg
    4 Arapaho Bjorn Baker Rachel King 11 54.5kg
    5 Mankayan Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jason Collett 12 54.5kg
    6 No Compromise Chris Waller Tommy Berry 5 53.5kg
    7 Durston Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 8 53kg
    8 Sacramento Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 9 53kg
    9 Surefire Chris Waller William Pike 13 52kg
    10 Realm Of Flowers Anthony & Sam Freedman Reece Jones 10 51kg
    11 Grove Ferry Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Winona Costin 14 51kg
    12 Carif Peter & Paul Snowden Andrew Adkins 6 51kg
    13 Francesco Guardo Chris Waller Alysha Collett 15 51kg
    14 Chalk Stream Chris Waller Kathy O’Hara 2 51kg
    15 Hameron Chris Waller Jay Ford 7 51kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Spirit Ridge Mark Newnham Joshua Parr 8 58kg
    2 Shared Ambition Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 1 57.5kg
    3 Quick Thinker Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Kerrin McEvoy 18 57kg
    4 Dashing Willoughby Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 6 57kg
    5 Angel Of Truth Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 19 56kg
    6 Mirage Dancer Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Sam Clipperton 13 56kg
    7 Warning Anthony & Sam Freedman Regan Bayliss 12 56kg
    8 Montefilia David Payne Hugh Bowman 17 55.5kg
    9 Attorney Matthew Smith James McDonald 20 55.5kg
    10 Le Don De Vie Anthony & Sam Freedman Glen Boss 21 55.5kg
    11 Kukeracha Chris Waller Glyn Schofield 16 55.5kg
    12 She’s Ideel Bjorn Baker Jason Collett 15 55kg
    13 Harpo Marx Bjorn Baker Rachel King 5 54kg
    14 Entente Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 4 52.5kg
    15 Great House Chris Waller Jeff Penza 11 52kg
    16 Hush Writer Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott James Innes Jnr 7 51kg
    17 No Compromise Chris Waller Kathy O’Hara 10 50kg
    18 Charms Star Chris Waller Alysha Collett 9 50kg
    19 Luncies (1E) Kris Lees Robbie Dolan 2 50kg
    20 Zeyrek Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Andrew Adkins 3 50kg
    21 Long Arm Peter Gelagotis Jean Van Overmeire 14 50kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Mustajeer Kris Lees Hugh Bowman 5 58kg
    2 Mugatoo Kris Lees Kerrin McEvoy 7 57kg
    3 Mirage Dancer Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Nash Rawiller 3 55.5kg
    4 Wu Gok Chris Waller Sam Clipperton 13 55kg
    5 Raheen House Kris Lees Jason Collett 12 54.5kg
    6 Etah James Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Regan Bayliss 6 53.5kg
    7 Shared Ambition Chris Waller James McDonald 19 53.5kg
    8 Brimham Rocks Chris Waller Brenton Avdulla 16 53.5kg
    9 Hush Writer Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 2 53kg
    10 Lord Belvedere Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Kathy O’Hara 10 52.5kg
    11 Carif Peter & Paul Snowden Robbie Dolan 9 52.5kg
    12 Rondinella John O’Shea Rachel King 15 51.5kg
    13 Angel Of Truth Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 11 51.5kg
    14 Azuro Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Louise Day 21 51.5kg
    15 Paths Of Glory Anthony & Sam Freedman Kathy O’Hara 17 50.5kg
    16 Girl Tuesday Clarry Conners Glen Boss 22 50kg
    17 Miss Sentimental Chris Waller Jess Taylor 18 50kg
    18 Zebrowski Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes James Innes Jnr 4 50kg
    19 Norway Chris Waller Alysha Collett 20 50.5kg
    20 Attention Run Kris Lees Andrew Gibbons 1 50kg
    21 Sir Charles Road Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Brock Ryan 8 51kg
    22 Grey Lion Matthew Smith N/A 14 50kg

2023 The Metropolitan result


1stJust Fine (-133.33)
2ndSpirit Ridge (+720)
3rdKalapour (+360)

Recent Metropolitan winners

  • Just Fine ($1.75) was backed as if unbeatable in the Group 1 Metropolitan, but there would have been a few stressful moments in the home straight for favourite backers as he just got the better of roughie Spirit Ridge ($41.00) in the final strides. After very impressive wins at both of his first two starts in Australia, the ex-European opened as a very short favourite with most online bookmakers on Wednesday and held favouritism with very little movement all day on Saturday. The son of Sea The Stars settled behind the speed in the box seat, as Spirit Ridge took the running, but when the leader kicked clear on the home turn there would have been some worrying moments for the connections of the favourite, who took a while to level up with the roughie. However, under the urgings Rachel King, Just Fine proved too tough and too classy for his rivals, defeating Spirit Ridge by a long neck and Kalapour ($21.00) who was over three lengths back in third place.
  • The Chris Waller-trained No Compromise had been well backed throughout the day in the lead-up to The Metrop and managed to rewards punters….just. With race favourite Le Don De Vie shifting out at the top of the straight, Tommy Berry opted to dart back to the rail aboard the eventual winner and despite going stirde for stride for the favourite, No Compromise got his nose down in time to claim victory over Le Don De Vie and Realm Of Flowers in one of the tightest finishes in recent times.
  • Having drawn the wide barrier Montefilia had to settle out wide in the second half of the field and be patient.Favourite Entente started his move early up the field which resulted in Bowman having to loosen the reigns to follow. There were plenty of challenges on the straight with the likes of Hush Writer and Spirit Ridge looking a chance before Montefilia pushed through to put her head in front at the 150m. Entente came with her and the duo hit the line together forcing a thrilling photo finish that went the way of Montefilia the outside by the bob of the head resulting in Hugh Bowman claiming his 100th Group One Victory.
  • It took a patient ride from Nash Rawiller, but it was the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Mirage Dancer who foiled the party of favourite Mugatoo in The Metropolitan. The ex-Kiwi was shifted back to midfield upon entering the home straight having been three back the fence, but Rawiller was patient throughout the early stages of the home straight, but once the gap appeared at the 200m mark he exploded through the gap and displayed a turn of foot which saw him nab Mugatoo on the line in dramatic fashion.
  • The premier staying race in Sydney saw Brimham Rocks nicely backed to jump favourite for the Chris Waller team, but it was yet again ‘The Other Waller’ horse who got up in an exciting edition of the Metropolitan. Come Play With Me was yet to set the world on fire after his move over from Western Australia, but was the one who went home the best went charging through a small gap to hold out Gallic Chieftain, to hand Chris Waller his third Group 1 for the day.
  • Patrick Erin had failed to set the world on fire since crossing the Tasman earlier in the year, but a quality lead in run to the Metro may have gotten under the punters’ guard. Under a brilliant ride from Corey Brown, the $16 outsider was presented in the final 200m race to challenge the favourite Brimham Rocks, matched strides with the swooping Kiwi but just went down in a photo finish.
  • Foundry lobbed into Cups calculations with a tough win in the 2017 Metropolitan Handicap. The eight-year-old import for Robert Hickmott sustained a run around runners to beat the fast-finishing Big Duke and New Zealand entrant Chocante. The 11-horse field was covered by less than six lengths which doesn’t say much for the quality of the field, but it was enough to earn Foundry plenty of respect. Read report here.
  • Astern established itself as the class three-year-old of its year scoring by 2.25 lengths. The John O’Shea-trained colt by Medaglia D’Oro burst past runners with a big turn-of-foot and it gave James McDonald won of his biggest wins before succumbing to suspension. Included in the beaten brigade was subsequent group one winner Impending and quality filly Yankee Rose.
  • Magic Hurricane was a John O’Shea-trained European import which started its Australian campaign with a bang. It easily dispatched a solid Metropolitan field by two lengths which included Beaten Up, Opinion and Junoob. It hasn’t quite been the same horse since, but it was only one of two favourites to win in the last 10 years.
  • Opinion was always considered a top European prospect on rain-affected ground, but it managed to win on a good track in 2014. Another import for Chris Waller, the son of Oasis Dream wasn’t fancied at $12 in the betting, but it finished off too well for its rivals didn’t include much apart from second place-getter and Melbourne Cup entrant Araldo.
  • Another imported runner scored in 2013 with Seville. The Robert Hickmott-trained horse was $10 in the betting and it took advantage of a relatively weak field. Metropolitans are usually strong races, but this simply wasn’t a strong year.
  • Glencadam Gold was an Irish import for Gai Waterhouse which loved to roll along in front. It cruised to victory by 3.8 lengths over Kelinni and stablemate Reuben Percival. It was heavily backed at $1.85 and it would later be well backed to win the Caulfield Cup, but again the field wasn’t strong and carrying only 53kg made it even easier.
  • The Verminator was one of seven consecutive imported winners and it didn’t have everything go its way. The Chris Waller-trained gelding was drawn barrier 16 and was forced to race three wide. Jockey Craig Newitt pushed forward and it kicked very nicely to win by 2.8 lengths over Hawk Island. It carried only 52kg in the 17-horse field showing that the lightweights are good to bet on.

Previous The Metropolitan winners

The Metropolitan Past Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2023 Just Fine Rachel King Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
2022 No Compromise Tommy Berry Chris Waller
2021 Montefilia Hugh Bowman David Payne
2020 Mirage Dancer Nash Rawiller Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
2019 Come Play With Me Brenton Avdulla Chris Waller
2018 Patrick Erin Corey Brown Chris Waller
2017 Foundry Michael Dee Robert Hickmott
2016 Sir John Hawkwood Blake Spriggs John Thompson
2015 Magic Hurricane James McDonald John O’Shea
2014 Opinion Tye Angland Chris Waller
2013 Seville Hugh Bowman Robert Hickmott
2012 Glencadam Gold Tommy Berry Gai Waterhouse
2011 The Verminator Craig Newitt Chris Waller
2010 Herculian Prince Nash Rawiller Gai Waterhouse
2009 Speed Gifted Corey Brown Lee Freedman
2008 Newport Peter Wells Paul Perry
2007 Race Not Held
2006 Tawqeet Dwayne Dunn David Hayes
2005 Railings Darren Beadman John Hawkes
2004 County Tyrone Corey Brown Kris Lees
2003 Bedouin Glen Boss John O’Shea
2002 Victory Smile Danny Beasley Donna Logan
2001 Dress Circle Lenny Beasley Gai Waterhouse
2000 Coco Cabanna Chris Munce Gai Waterhouse

The Metropolitan Past Winners Pre 2000

The Metropolitan Past Winners Pre 2000
Year Horse
1999 Vita Man
1998 In Joyment
1997 Heart Ruler
1996 Hula Flight
1995 Electronic
1994 Glastonbury
1993 Zamination
1992 Te Akau Nick
1991 Lord Revenir
1990 Donegal Mist
1989 Hunter
1988 Natski
1987 Balciano
1986 Born To Be Queen
1985 Spritely Native
1984 Hayai
1983 Hayai
1982 Nicholas John
1981 Belmura Lad
1980 Brindisi
1979 Earthquake McGoon
1978 Ming Dynasty
1977 Sir Serene
1976 Battle Heights
1975 Bon Teint
1974 Passetreul
1973 Analie
1972 Altai Khan
1971 Oncidon
1970 Tails
1969 Tails
1968 Wiedersehen
1967 Gene
1966 Duo
1965 Striking Force
1964 Piper’s Son
1963 Galerus
1962 The Dip
1961 Waipari
1960 Red Wind
1959 Macdougal
1958 Monte Carlo
1957 Straight Draw
1956 Redcraze
1955 Beaupa
1954 Commodore
1953 Carioca
1952 Dalray
1951 Delta
1950 Conductor
1949 Count Cyrano
1948 Buonarroti Boy
1947 Murray Stream
1946 Cordale
1945 Murray Stream
1944 Nightbeam
1943 Main Topic
1942 Grand Fils
1941 Dashing Cavalier
1940 Beau Vite
1939 Feminist
1938 Royal Chief
1937 Sir Regent
1936 Young Crusader
1935 Oro
1934 Waikare
1933 Regal Son
1932 Denis Boy
1931 Strength
1930 Cragford
1929 Loquacious
1928 Jocelyn
1927 Murillo
1926 Star Stranger
1925 Bard Of Avon
1924 Polycletan
1923 Sir Andrew
1922 Speciality
1921 Laddie Blue
1920 Pershore
1919 Rebus
1918 Kennaquhair
1917 Cagou
1916 Quinologist
1915 St. Carwyne
1914 St. Spasa
1913 Cagou
1912 Duke Foote
1911 Malt King
1910 Eric
1909 Maltine
1908 Mooltan
1907 Mooltan
1906 Solution
1905 Maniapoto
1904 Alias
1903 Marvel Loch
1902 Queen Of Sheba
1901 San Fran
1900 Reviver
1899 Cremona
1898 Cravat
1897 Survivor
1896 The Skipper
1895 Nobleman
1894 Projectile
1893 Paris
1892 Althotas
1891 Yowi
1890 Little Bernie
1889 Abercorn
1888 Lamond
1887 Cardigan
1886 The Bohemian
1885 Acolyte
1884 Sir Modred
1883 The Gem
1882 Masquerade
1881 Hesperian
1880 The Pontiff
1879 Secundus
1878 Democrat
1877 Amendment
1876 Nemesis
1875 Goldsbrough
1874 Sterling
1873 Horatio
1872 Dagworth
1871 Rosebud
1870 Croydon
1869 Circassian
1868 The Barb
1967 Tim Whiffler
1866 Bylong
1865 Volunteer
1864 Tarragon
1863 Regno
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ROBERT SCHOFIELD
ROBERT SCHOFIELD
2 years ago

There are no specific dates for these meetings, just the year. The Metrop is a very important leadup race for Sydney horses into the VRC Spring Carnival, but with no dates how can one accurately assess different training for different horses, trainers, etc?