The Metropolitan 2020 odds have firmed on the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained stayer Taikomochi after the galloper’s brave victory in the Group 3 $160,000 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Taikomochi will tackle the Group 1 The Metropolitan after winning the Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
Waterhouse has prepared four winners of the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) in the past 20 years and looks to have a genuine contender for the October 3 showdown back at Royal Randwick with Snitzel seven-year-old Taikomochi.
The ultra-consistent gelding came off a fourth when only 1.5 lengths off Mugatoo in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on August 29.
The form from that race is proving red hot with the winner Mugatoo taking out Friday’s Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), and then Taikomochi saluting in a brilliant on-speed performance in the Kingston Town Stakes results.
“So satisfying to see,” co-trainer Adrian Bott told the media post-win.
“Obviously so much respect for this horse.
“What he has achieved in his career.
“Still to be racing at this level at his age the manner in which he does.
“Such a tough horse. Very satisfying.”
Ridden to victory by Tim Clark, Taikomochi was quick out the gates as usual taking up the early lead before Wu Gok came wide, circling the field to hit the front at the 1400m.
Clark was happy to take the sit in second in a strung-out field where around 15 length separated first to last during the run at the 800m.
Wu Gok had the lead at the top of the straight two in front of the next best, but was tackled by Taikomochi at the 200m who took up front running and looked a sitting duck.
There were a wall of horses chasing him home, but Taikomochi dug deep and took out the Group 3 fifth-up as the fit galloper in a great performance that almost broke the track record.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve ridden him in a race actually, he’s a pleasure to have around and he’s a dude to ride,” winning jockey Tim Clark said.
“When he gets to the front, he drops the bit so to have something in front of him, it gave him something to aim up at and chase.
“He’s a credit to the stable, he’s a grand old warrior for them and great to see him break through today. He’s been around and he just keeps showing up, he’s got a great attitude, I think that helps him a lot.”
On the line Taikomochi ($9.50) had a length to spare over the Chris Waller-rained Shared Ambition ($4.20) who got a lovely run throughout and had no excuses as the beaten favourite.
The fellow Waller-trained Brimham Rocks ($17) at double-figures rounded out the trifecta.
Taikomochi has subsequently firmed in from $51 to $17 in the all-in The Metropolitan 2020 betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au and Bott believes the horse capable of running out a strong 2400m.
“I don’t see that being a problem for him. He’s a fit horse. We gave him a really good grounding, a foundation leading into the Metropolitan. I think he’ll run it out strongly and is well weighted in the race,” Bott said.
Clark agreed and said Taikomochi would be “very competitive” in the upcoming Group 1.
“That was a really solidly run 2000m, you’d think at a mile and a half they aren’t going to go as quick, he’s very tough, he’s willing, he gives his all and deserves a shot at a race like that and I’m sure he’ll be very competitive,” he said.
Click here for the latest The Metropolitan 2020 odds online thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au.
2020 Kingston Town Classic Results
| Colour | Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 6 | TAIKOMOCHI | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 5 | 56kg | $9.50 | ||
 |
2 | 9 | SHARED AMBITION (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1L | 12 | 55kg | $4.20F | |
 |
3 | 4 | BRIMHAM ROCKS (GB) | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 1.2L | 8 | 56.5kg | $17 | |
 |
4 | 14 | ZEBROWSKI (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Hugh Bowman | 1.7L | 7 | 55kg (cd 56kg) | $5.50 | |
 |
5 | 15 | RONDINELLA (NZ) | John O’Shea | Ms Rachel King | 2.1L | 6 | 53kg | $9 | |
 |
6 | 16 | GIRL TUESDAY | Clarry Conners | Glen Boss | 2.3L | 1 | 53kg | $12 | |
 |
7 | 5 | WU GOK | Chris Waller | Adam Hyeronimus | 2.5L | 14 | 56kg | $31 | |
 |
8 | 11 | CARIF | Peter & Paul Snowden | Regan Bayliss | 3L | 15 | 55kg | $41 | |
 |
9 | 1 | ANGEL OF TRUTH | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 3.4L | 10 | 58kg | $14 | |
 |
10 | 2 | LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE) | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 4.1L | 4 | 57kg | $16 | |
 |
11 | 12 | SIR CHARLES ROAD | Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott | Jim Byrne | 4.7L | 3 | 55kg | $101 | |
 |
12 | 10 | SIKANDARABAD (IRE) | Sam Kavanagh | Brenton Avdulla | 4.9L | 13 | 55kg | $10 | |
 |
13 | 7 | MISS SENTIMENTAL (NZ) | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 5.8L | 2 | 56kg | $151 | |
 |
14 | 17e | DJUKON (GB) | Chris Waller | Sam Clipperton | 6.2L | 11 | 55kg | $71 | |
 |
15 | 8 | MUSTAJEER (GB) | Kris Lees | Kerrin McEvoy | 6.3L | 16 | 55kg | $18 | |
 |
16 | 3 | DANZDANZDANCE | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 9.3L | 9 | 57kg | $101 | |
 |
20e | KINANE (NZ) | Chris Waller | 0 | ||||||
 |
21e | THINK IT OVER | Kerry Parker | Jim Byrne | 0 | |||||
 |
19e | MASAFF (IRE) | Chris Waller | 0 | ||||||
 |
13 | PATHS OF GLORY (GB) | Richard & Michael Freedman | Jean Van Overmeire (a) | 0 | |||||
 |
18e | MORTON’S FORK | Richard Litt | Robbie Dolan | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
