We have The Metropolitan tips and predictions for the Group 2 2400m race at Randwick on Saturday.
The Metropolitan odds have Aethelwulf as the favourite, but the bubble might burst in a tough race.
It pays to respect a former European galloper making his way in Australia, and The Euphrates proved his quality with an impressive win at Randwick last time out.
He controlled the race from the front and was able to dash clear late, holding off Juja Kibo and Soul of Spain. That performance gives him a strong reference point heading into the Metrop. From barrier 1, Tim Clark should be able to roll forward and take up the running again.
He showed class when running in Europe, and it was only a matter of time before he won in Australia. His confidence levels will be high now following the win at Randwick, and he could kick on with it.
The Euphrates was initially priced at $4.20 before easing to $4.80, but with the favourite also drifting slightly throughout the week, his quote has tightened back into $4.60. At that price, he looks worth considering in The Metropolitan predictions.
| 1. The Euphrates (1) J: Tim Clark 59kg 17×41 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 9 in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 2.75 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $31. Second-up won by 0.9 len in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes at this track on September 19 over 2000m defeating Juja Kibo carrying 55kg at $5. Talented import who can measure up again over this trip. | |||
We’re not keen on underestimating a Chris Waller-trained stayer, especially with James McDonald riding.
Soul of Spain comes off a third placing behind The Euphrates in the Kingston Town Stakes, which should be the best form guide for this race. It’s a strong rating affair, and the 5YO gelding was finding the line nicely.
He’s often underrated in betting markets, but there has been some respect for him at $8.50. That’s a fair price for a runner of his class, and he’s always around the mark over 2400m with three placings from five attempts.
| 2. Soul Of Spain (5) J: James McDonald 58.5kg 2×683 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Dual acceptor. At the latest run made some head-way from midfield; 3rd of 14 in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes at this track on September 19 over 2000m, 1.5 len behind The Euphrates with 56kg at $3.90. Before that ran second last of 9 in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 4 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $61. Should have won this race last year with the 50.5kg, place best. | |||
One of the more interesting runners in the field is Pinhole, who dug deep to score a win last week, and being on the quick back-up from the Waller stable is a good sign.
He got the better of Starzintheireyes, who is a highly touted type, and the 4YO son of Frankel is bred to be better than average at this level. He is a younger stayer on the rise, similar to Aethelwulf, and punters get much better odds than the favourite.
Carrying 53kg makes him tough to beat, and if he gets a soft trip throughout, his turn-of-foot is better than most. Include him in The Metropolitan predictions at double-figure odds.
| 12. Pinhole (10) J: Tyler Schiller 53kg 12×31 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up 3rd of 11 in a Bm94 at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 1.4 len behind The Mona Lisa carrying 52.5kg at $21. Second run from a spell won by a nose in a Bm88 at Rosehill on September 26 over 1900m defeating Starzintheireyes with 57kg at $12. Best form is over this trip and stays in the mix. | |||
Punters get value odds with our The Metropolitan SRM, which includes our three selected runners.
We have The Euphrates Top 2, Soul of Spain Top 3, and Pinhole Top 5, which pays $14.00 for our three-runner SRM.
All three runners have a good chance of winning this race, and punters get value odds by including Soul of Spain Top 3 and Pinhole Top 5, which gives a nice boost to same race multi odds.
| 1. The Euphrates (1) J: Tim Clark 59kg 17×41 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 9 in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 2.75 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $31. Second-up won by 0.9 len in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes at this track on September 19 over 2000m defeating Juja Kibo carrying 55kg at $5. Talented import who can measure up again over this trip. | |||
| 2. Soul Of Spain (5) J: James McDonald 58.5kg 2×683 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Dual acceptor. At the latest run made some head-way from midfield; 3rd of 14 in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes at this track on September 19 over 2000m, 1.5 len behind The Euphrates with 56kg at $3.90. Before that ran second last of 9 in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 4 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $61. Should have won this race last year with the 50.5kg, place best. | |||
| 12. Pinhole (10) J: Tyler Schiller 53kg 12×31 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up 3rd of 11 in a Bm94 at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 1.4 len behind The Mona Lisa carrying 52.5kg at $21. Second run from a spell won by a nose in a Bm88 at Rosehill on September 26 over 1900m defeating Starzintheireyes with 57kg at $12. Best form is over this trip and stays in the mix. | |||
Latest The Metropolitan 2026 Odds
The Metropolitan 2026 Odds
| 1. The Euphrates (1) J: Tim Clark 59kg 17×41 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 9 in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 2.75 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $31. Second-up won by 0.9 len in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes at this track on September 19 over 2000m defeating Juja Kibo carrying 55kg at $5. Talented import who can measure up again over this trip. | |||
| 2. Soul Of Spain (5) J: James McDonald 58.5kg 2×683 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Dual acceptor. At the latest run made some head-way from midfield; 3rd of 14 in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes at this track on September 19 over 2000m, 1.5 len behind The Euphrates with 56kg at $3.90. Before that ran second last of 9 in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 4 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $61. Should have won this race last year with the 50.5kg, place best. | |||
| 3. Deakin (2) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 56.5kg x5x38 T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes | |||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up came from midfield; 3rd of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield on August 29 over 1700m, slow going 1.2 len behind Kingswood with 57.5kg at $51. Second run from a spell 8th of 16 in the G3 Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield on September 19 over 2000m, 2 len behind Zahrann carrying 55.5kg at $7. Coming along nicely and is a great chance to atone. | |||
| 4. Green Spaces (7) J: Rachel King 56.5kg 1×860 T: Bjorn Baker | |||
| Most recently 11th of 14 in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes at this track on September 19 over 2000m, 5.5 len behind The Euphrates with 58kg at $10. The race before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 6th of 9 in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 3 len behind Lindermann carrying 58.5kg at $9. ATC Derby winner set to peak fourth up. | |||
| 5. Juja Kibo (4) J: Sam Clipperton 56.5kg 39×32 T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up ran on from midfield; 3rd of 11 in the LR Hawkesbury Rowley Mile on August 20 over 1600m, on a slow track; 2 len behind Narbold with 56kg at $11. Second-up raced on the pace when 2nd of 14 in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes at this track on September 19 over 2000m, 0.9 len behind The Euphrates carrying 55kg at $7. Ran third here last year and can measure up again. | |||
| 7. Aethelwulf (3) J: Zac Lloyd 55kg 51111 T: Matthew Smith | |||
| Dual acceptor. On a four run winning streak. At the latest run favourite; came from midfield and won by 2.5 len in the G3 Newcastle Cup on September 18 over 2300m defeating Steel Blaze carrying 54kg at $1.20. Before that favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 2.25 len in a Bm78 at Rosehill on August 29 over 2000m defeating Anthracite carrying 58kg at $1.35. Goes to a new level again and not sure where the ceiling is. | |||
| 8. Thebudgiesmugla (9) J: Dylan Gibbons 55kg 61144 T: Bjorn Baker | |||
| Recent form sound. At the latest run raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 8 in the LR City Tatt’s Club Cup at this track on September 5 over 2400m, 3 len behind So You Are with 59kg at $2.90. The race before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 8 in the G3 Premier’s Cup at this track on August 22 over 2000m, on a slow track; 1.1 len behind Boniface with 55kg at $6. Looks a strong top-three prospect in this tougher contest. | |||
| 10. Athabascan (6) J: Jason Collett 54kg 545×0 T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months ran last of 14 in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes at this track on September 19 over 2000m, 8 len behind The Euphrates carrying 56kg at $151. Previously second-up made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 9 in the LR Randwick City Stakes (Canterbury Cup) at this track on March 7 over 2000m, 1.2 len behind Campaldino with 54.5kg at $41. Fitter again but prefer to see a return to form. | |||
| 12. Pinhole (10) J: Tyler Schiller 53kg 12×31 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up 3rd of 11 in a Bm94 at this track on September 5 over 1600m, 1.4 len behind The Mona Lisa carrying 52.5kg at $21. Second run from a spell won by a nose in a Bm88 at Rosehill on September 26 over 1900m defeating Starzintheireyes with 57kg at $12. Best form is over this trip and stays in the mix. | |||
| 13. Steel Blaze (8) J: Reece Jones 53kg 89362 T: Brett Lazzarini | |||
| Most recently 2nd of 7 in the G3 Newcastle Cup on September 18 over 2300m, 2.5 len behind Aethelwulf carrying 54kg at $101. The race before that from last on the turn ran second last of 7 in the LR Wyong Gold Cup on September 4 over 2100m, 2.5 len behind Matusalem carrying 54kg at $101. Looking to others. | |||
| 6. Valiant King (1) Scratched: | |||
| 9. Piggyback (7) Scratched: | |||
| 11. Mr Monaco (12) Scratched: | |||