The Metropolitan is the headline staying event of the Sydney Spring Carnival, and a capacity field will descend on Royal Randwick this Saturday.
Just Fine has recorded two wins from as many starts since arriving in Australia, and he is set to start a short-priced favourite; $1.55 in The Metropolitan betting at publish.
Have I put him on top? Scroll down to my preview and The Metropolitan Tips to find out!
Suggested Bets
Same Race Multi:
- No. 14 Just Fine (Win)
- No. 10 Kalapour (Top 4)
- No. 12 Benaud (Top 4)
The Metropolitan – Winner
I didn’t want to, but I simply cannot find one to beat Just Fine in The Metropolitan 2023, and I will look to pump up my odds by having him as the winner in a Same Race Multi.
He showed great ability over in the UK and Ireland prior to his move to Australia, and he won easily over a mile here at Randwick at the beginning of the month.
Having followed up that effort with another comfortable win in the Group 3 Kingston Town at his latest, The Metropolitan is the next logical step, and he gets into the race with only 50kgs in tow.
Suggested Bet: No. 12 Just Fine
The Metropolitan – 2nd
Benaud looks to have returned to his best form recently, and The Metropolitan really is the perfect Group 1 target for him.
The classy grey initially stamped himself as one to watch during his three-year-old season, performing well in Group 1 company and finding form around some talented opposition, but it’s fair to say he went a little amiss at four.
Having returned this time for an eye-catching win in the Wyong Gold Cup, Benaud was last seen finishing second behind Just Fine in the Kingston Town, and I’m confident the same quinella can materialise in The Metropolitan.
The booking of Jamie Kah, and an allocation of just 51.5kgs add further confidence.
Suggested Bet: No. 12 Benaud
The Metropolitan – 3rd
He didn’t show his best when midfield in the Newcastle Gold Cup a couple of weeks ago, but I’m expecting Kalapour to turn in an improved performance in The Metropolitan.
The seven-year-old son of War Command finished half a length behind the winner in the Premier’s Cup Prelude first run back this time and dropped the ride in the Wyong Gold Cup, while he probably wasn’t in the right part of the track at his latest.
We know how good this bloke can be when he is fit and running well, and I am confident that Kerrin McEvoy can get the best out of him from gate 3 on Saturday.
Suggested Bet: No. 10 Kalapour
The Metropolitan – 4th
Adam Hyeronimus will look to take Knights Order straight to the lead in The Metropolitan and give them something to chase.
The Group 1 winner has proven to be one of the toughest stayers in the country throughout the last few seasons, and he has posted plenty of strong results to go with his memorable win in the 2022 Sydney Cup.
It is fair to say that he hasn’t shown his best in two starts back this time, but he has stripped fitter, and we know he’s going to see out the 2400m.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Knights Order
