The Metropolitan Winners

From the race’s inauguration back in 1863 right through until 2026 we have a complete list of past The Metropolitan Handicap winners. View every previous The Metropolitan champion throughout history, plus extra details including the age, gender and weight carried to victory of The Metropolitan winners going back to the year 2000.

Montefilia | Photo: Steve Hart | Neds
2021 The Metropolitan winner Montefilia. Photo: Steve Hart.

Regno (1863) was the inaugural The Metropolitan Handicap winner.

The 1867 The Metropolitan winner Tim Whiffler went on to salute in that year’s Melbourne Cup race becoming the first horse in history to do The Metropolitan – Melbourne Cup double in the same season. The other horses to do the double are Delta (1951), Dalray (1952), Straight Draw (1957), and Macdougal (1959).

Marvel Loch (1903) was the last three-year-old The Metropolitan winner, while no filly has been successful in the race to date.

The Metropolitan – Caulfield Cup double winners: Redcraze (1956), Hayai (1983), Railings (2005), Tawqeet (2006).

Multiple The Metropolitan Handicap winners: Mooltan (1907-08); Cagou (1913, 1917); Murray Stream (1945, 1947); Tails (1969-70); Hayai (1983-84).

Trainer Gai Waterhouse holds the record having prepared nine previous The Metropolitan winners, most recently Just Fine (2023) who she prepared in partnership with Adrian Bott.

Montefilia (2021) was the last The Metropolitan winning mare.

The 2022 Metropolitan winner No Compromise held on in a photo-finish to defeat the equal favourite Le Don De Vie.

The 2023 The Metropolitan winner was the odds-on favourite Just Fine ($1.75F) who narrowly saluted for the punters after the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained import fought stride-for-stride with 40/1 roughie Spirit Ridge before nailing him right on the line in a thrilling finish ahead of a likely Melbourne Cup bid on November 7 at Flemington.

The 2024 The Metropolitan winner was the Chris Waller-trained import Land Legend ($7.50) who was brave holding out Zardozi for a narrow win ahead of the Spring Cups.

The 2025 The Metropolitan winner was five-year-old Make Believe gelding Royal Supremacy ($7.50) for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Robbie Dolan aboard on 50kg from barrier 9 to win by 0.77 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 2:26.84.

The 2026 The Metropolitan winner was six-year-old Belardo gelding Juja Kibo at $5.50 who came via a lead-up second in the Group 2 Kingston Town Stakes and improved on his third in the race last year. The Metropolitan 2026 winner saluted for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Sam Clipperton aboard on 56.5kg from barrier 4 to beat the favourite Aethelwulf by 1.71 lengths in a time of 2:32.04 on a Soft (6) track.

2026 The Metropolitan Race Replay

The Metropolitan 2026 Results

Randwick R7 – Asahi Super Dry Metropolitan Hcp (G2)
Final Race time: 
1st
5. Juja Kibo (4)
J: Sam Clipperton 56.5kg
39×32 T: Ciaron Maher
5.50WIN
1.80PLACE
2nd
7. Aethelwulf (3)
J: Zac Lloyd 55kg
51111 T: Matthew Smith
2.80WIN
1.35PLACE
3rd
1. The Euphrates (1)
J: Tim Clark 59kg
17×41 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
4.20WIN
1.60PLACE
4th
4. Green Spaces (7)
J: Rachel King 56.5kg
1×860 T: Bjorn Baker
10.00WIN
2.50PLACE
5th
10. Athabascan (6)
J: Jason Collett 54kg
545×0 T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton
91.00WIN
10.00PLACE
6th
8. Thebudgiesmugla (9)
J: Dylan Gibbons 55kg
61144 T: Bjorn Baker
17.00WIN
3.50PLACE
7th
2. Soul Of Spain (5)
J: James McDonald 58.5kg
2×683 T: Chris Waller
7.50WIN
2.15PLACE
8th
3. Deakin (2)
J: Kerrin Mcevoy 56.5kg
x5x38 T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes
12.00WIN
2.80PLACE
9th
13. Steel Blaze (8)
J: Reece Jones 53kg
89362 T: Brett Lazzarini
151.00WIN
14.00PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.neds.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 03/10/2026 04:37:46 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
View Results

The Metropolitan Winners 2000 – the Present

YearHorse (Age / Gender)JockeyWeightTrainer/sBarrier
2026JUJA KIBO (IRE) (6G)S CLIPPERTON56.5 kgCIARON MAHER4
2025ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) (5G)R DOLAN50.0 kgCIARON MAHER9
2024LAND LEGEND (FR) (5G)R JONES51.0 kgCHRIS WALLER6
2023JUST FINE (IRE) (6G)R KING50.0 kgGAI WATERHOUSE & ADRIAN BOTT2
2022NO COMPROMISE (NZ) (6G)T BERRY53.5 kgCHRIS WALLER4
MONTEFILIA (AUS) (4M)H BOWMAN55.5 kgDAVID PAYNE13
MIRAGE DANCER (GB) (6H)N RAWILLER55.5 kgTRENT BUSUTTIN & NATALIE YOUNG3
COME PLAY WITH ME (AUS) (5G)B AVDULLA54.0 kgCHRIS WALLER3
PATRICK ERIN (NZ) (7G)C W BROWN51.0 kgCHRIS WALLER4
FOUNDRY (IRE) (7G)MICHAEL DEE50.5 kgROBERT HICKMOTT8
SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (IRE) (7G)B SPRIGGS54.0 kgJOHN P THOMPSON6
MAGIC HURRICANE (IRE) (5G)JAMES MCDONALD55.5 kgJOHN O’SHEA1
OPINION (IRE) (5G)T ANGLAND56.0 kgCHRIS WALLER14
SEVILLE (GER) (5H)J BOWMAN55.5 kgROBERT HICKMOTT8
GLENCADAM GOLD (IRE) (4G)TOMMY BERRY53.0 kgMS G WATERHOUSE4
THE VERMINATOR (AUS) (5G)C NEWITT52.0 kgCHRIS WALLER16
HERCULIAN PRINCE (NZ) (5G)N RAWILLER55.5 kgMS G WATERHOUSE6
SPEED GIFTED (GB) (5G)C W BROWN53.0 kgD L FREEDMAN6
NEWPORT (AUS) (6G)PETER WELLS52.0 kgPAUL PERRY4
TAWQEET (USA) (4H)D DUNN54.0 kgD A HAYES9
RAILINGS (AUS) (4G)D BEADMAN53.5 kgJOHN HAWKES14
COUNTY TYRONE (AUS) (6G)C W BROWN56.5 kgKRIS LEES1
BEDOUIN (AUS) (6G)G BOSS54.0 kgJOHN O’SHEA15
VICTORY SMILE (NZ) (6G)D BEASLEY52.0 kgD LOGAN13
DRESS CIRCLE (NZ) (5G)L BEASLEY51.0 kgMS G WATERHOUSE9
COCO COBANNA (NZ) (4M)C MUNCE52.0 kgMS G WATERHOUSE12

Note: There was no 2007 edition of The Metropolitan due to the Equine Influenza outbreak in Sydney. 

Complete List of Past The Metropolitan Winners

YearWinner
2026Juja Kibo
2025Royal Supremacy
2024Land Legend
2023Just Fine
2022No Compromise
2021Montefilia
2020Mirage Dancer
2019Come Play With Me
2018Patrick Erin
2017Foundry
2016Sir John Hawkwood
2015Magic Hurricane
2014Opinion
2013Seville
2012Glencadam Gold
2011The Verminator
2010Herculian Prince
2009Speed Gifted
2008Newport
2007

Race Not  Held due to Equine Influenza

–
2006Tawqeet
2005Railings
2004County Tyrone
2003Bedouin
2002Victory Smile
2001Dress Circle
2000Coco Cobanna
1999Vita Man
1998In Joyment
1997Heart Ruler
1996Hula Flight
1995Electronic
1994Glastonbury
1993Zamination
1992Te Akau Nick
1991Lord Revenir
1990Donegal Mist
1989Hunter
1988Natski
1987Balciano
1986Born To Be Queen
1985Spritely Native
1984Hayai
1983Hayai
1982Nicholas John
1981Belmura Lad
1980Brindisi
1979Earthquake McGoon
1978Ming Dynasty
1977Sir Serene
1976Battle Heights
1975Bon Teint
1974Passetreul
1973Analie
1972Altai Khan
1971Oncidon
1970Tails
1969Tails
1968Wiedersehen
1967General Command
1966Duo
1965Striking Force
1964Piper’s Son
1963Galerus
1962The Dip
1961Waipari
1960Red Wind
1959Macdougal
1958Monte Carlo
1957Straight Draw
1956Redcraze
1955Beaupa
1954Commodore
1953Carioca
1952Dalray
1951Delta
1950Conductor
1949Count Cyrano
1948Buonarroti Boy
1947Murray Stream
1946Cordale
1945Murray Stream
1944Nightbeam
1943Main Topic
1942Grand Fils
1941Dashing Cavalier
1940Beau Vite
1939Feminist
1938Royal Chief
1937Sir Regent
1936Young Crusader
1935Oro
1934Waikare
1933Regal Son
1932Denis Boy
1931Strength
1930Cragford
1929Loquacious
1928Jocelyn
1927Murillo
1926Star Stranger
1925Bard Of Avon
1924Polycletan
1923Sir Andrew
1922Speciality
1921Laddie Blue
1920Pershore
1919Rebus
1918Kennaquhair
1917Cagou
1916Quinologist
1915St. Carwyne
1914St. Spasa
1913Cagou
1912Duke Foote
1911Malt King
1910Eric
1909Maltine
1908Mooltan
1907Mooltan
1906Solution (NZ)
1905Maniapoto
1904Alias
1903Marvel Loch
1902Queen Of Sheba
1901San Fran
1900Reviver
1899Cremona
1898Cravat
1897Survivor
1896The Skipper
1895Nobleman
1894Projectile
1893Paris
1892Althotas
1891Yowi
1890Little Bernie
1889Abercorn
1888Lamond
1887Cardigan
1886The Bohemian
1885Acolyte
1884Sir Modred
1883The Gem
1882Masquerade
1881Hesperian
1880The Pontiff
1879Secundus
1878Democrat
1877Amendment
1876Nemesis
1875Goldsbrough
1874Sterling
1873Horatio
1872Dagworth
1871Rosebud
1870Croydon
1869Circassian
1868The Barb
1867Tim Whiffler
1866Bylong
1865Volunteer
1864Tarragon
1863Regno