Two great mates fought it out in a thrilling 2024 The Metropolitan result on the big stage at Royal Randwick with Reece Jones getting his first Group 1 when narrowly denying fellow young gun Zac Lloyd aboard the gallant runner-up Zardozi.

For Lloyd it had already been a huge Epsom Handicap Day in Sydney with the up-and-comer claiming his second Group 1 success on Lady Shenandoah in the Flight Stakes before a boilover by potential The Everest-bound Airman at $41 in the Premiere Stakes.

He nearly came away with an elite level double on the day but was forced to settle for second in a devastatingly close Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m).

Despite being mates in the jockey’s room, Jones had to survive a protest launched by Lloyd against him and his ride to take home the Group 1 trophy.

After deliberations, stewards eventually dismissed The Metropolitan protest of second against first and the original placings were upheld.

“That’s unbelievable. When he was a little bit tardy into stride and a little bit further back than where I wanted to be I thought it was just going to be a little bit tougher. I just had to keep my cool, let him build into it,” winning hoop Jones told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-victory.

“I knew I found the back of Zardozi, I’d be right in the finish. Took me everywhere I needed to go. I didn’t want to trust his turn of foot against her, so I just made sure he was up and mobile, similar to when he won the St Leger.

“He was terrific and tough then, to come here and do the same again today, credit to the Waller camp, they’ve got him absolutely spot on for today.”

Jones whipped up right round the outside of the field on the progressive Chris Waller-trained import Land Legend ($7.50) approaching the home turn and kept on with his run once on the straight.

The five-year-old Galileo gelding burst to the front 350m out but was quickly joined by last year’s VRC Oaks winner, the talented James Cummings-trained daughter of Kingman, Zardozi ($7).

Land Legend and Zardozi quickly put a gap on the rest of the field to fight it out stride-for-stride over the final 300m in a thriller.

After racing three-wide throughout Zardozi was brave really digging in on the inside but the photo showed Land Legend got there by the bob of the head right on the line.

It was another tight finish for third with the beaten favourite, Unusual Legacy ($4.8), snaring the final spot in The Metropolitan trifecta after running much closer on speed.

For Land Legend it was a nice return to form as he posted his second win in Australia after the big St. Leger victory on debut down under at Randwick back in October last year.

“It was (good to see him get another win here at Randwick),” Waller said.

“Obviously the writing was on the wall when he won a St Leger. Mr Ho has taken his time with him and James Ferguson handed the reins over to us and he’s just been given plenty of time.

“We picked this race out, I guess six months ago and said we’ll do it third-up and make sure we’ve still got something left for the rest of the spring as well.

“When it was a hard-fought finish, I just wondered whether his condition would hold out because he’s actually quite a gross horse, he’s a bit of a bulldog. And he was tough the last 100m.”

The Metropolitan winner could now be headed south for a shot at the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19.

Updated all-in 2024 Caulfield Cup odds online have Land Legend into $15 to do the interstate double.

Click here for the latest markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2024 The Metropolitan Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

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