The Metropolitan is a Group 1 race run over 2400m at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Epsom Handicap Day during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival as a possible Caulfield Cup lead-up.
2024 The Metropolitan Results
- 1st: #14 Land Legend
- 2nd: #10 Zardozi
- 3rd: #21e Unusual Legacy
The Metropolitan News
- Wide Open 2024 The Metropolitan Field & Betting Market
- 2024 The Metropolitan Target for Colin Stephen Winner First Light
- Kingston Town Winner Eliyass Firms in 2024 The Metropolitan Betting
- Etna Rosso Claims 2024 Newcastle Gold Cup for Six-Time Winner Waller
- The Metropolitan Winner 2023 Just Fine Just Wins Ahead of Melbourne Cup
The Metropolitan Handicap is one of the most prestigious and anticipated races run by the Australian Turf Club (ATC) as part of their Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
Held on a major race day at the carnival on either the last Saturday in September or the first Saturday in October – the day before the NRL Grand Final – at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, The Metropolitan is one of three Group 1 events at the meeting along with the Epsom Handicap (1600m) for milers and the Flight Stakes (1600m) for the three-year-old fillies.
The Metropolitan is a 2400m staying event run under open handicap conditions by entries aged three-years-old and over. Held at the end of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, punters who have watched the earlier races closely should have a fairly strong indication of the dominant runners of the season.
Entries in The Metropolitan may come via a range of races including the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality Handicap (2400m) the week before, or the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in September.
Just Fine (2023) was the last horse to complete the Kingston Town Stakes – The Metropolitan double.
In recent years the Colin Stephen, run at the same course, distance and conditions, has been the most important guide to The Metropolitan and offers the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1. Horses to take out this Colin Stephen – Metropolitan double include Railings (2005), Dress Circle (2001), Coco Cobanna (2000), Vita Man (1999), In Joyment (1998), Heart Ruler (1997), and Hula Flight (1996).
The Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) also offers the winner a The Metropolitan ballot exemption.
In 2023 Spirit Ridge ran second in the Newcastle Gold Cup and was huge nearly holding off the odds-on favourite Just Fine when runner-up in The Metropolitan next start at 40/1.
The best out of The Metropolitan race may have their sights set on Melbourne’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) later in the month. Four horses have completed The Metropolitan – Caulfield Cup interstate double in the same season, most recently Tawqeet (2006).
The Metropolitan is also one of four lead-up races that offers a $500,000 bonus to any horse that can win it plus Rosehill’s Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) on Golden Eagle Day.
The Metropolitan winner also earns a ballot exemption into the following year’s Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick during April’s ‘The Championships.
The 2021 The Metropolitan form was franked with the winner Montefilia running fourth next-up in that year’s Caulfield Cup results before returning the next autumn to win the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) in 2022.
The 2024 Metropolitan Handicap ran on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Royal Randwick and was won in a narrow thriller by the Chris Waller-trained Land Legend ($7.50) who survived a protest to keep the Group 1 trophy.
| Metropolitan Handicap | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday, October 5, 2024 |
| Track: | Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 2400m |
| Conditions: | Three-year-old & Up – Open Handicap |
| Status: | Group 1 |
| Prizemoney: | $750,000 |
| Inaugurated: | 1863 |
2024 The Metropolitan Results
The official The Metropolitan Handicap 2024 results and finishing order will be updated in full below once the race takes place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 .
- 1st: #14 Land Legend ($7.50)
- 2nd: #10 Zardozi
- 3rd: #21e Unusual Legacy
Land Legend ($7.50) dug deep to salute by the barest of margins when denying Zardozi victory and surviving a subsequent protest to claim the 2024 The Metropolitan win in Sydney. Jockey Reece Jones secured his first Group 1 success aboard the potential Spring Cups-bound Chris Waller-trained import who he guided to a barnstorming and thrillingly close photo showdown win over the Zac Lloyd-ridden James Cummings-trained mare Zardozi.
Click here for the full story.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Chris Waller | Reece Jones | 6 | 51kg | $7.50 | |||
| 2 | 10 | ZARDOZI | James Cummings | Zac Lloyd (a) | 0.05L | 9 | 52kg | $7 | ||
| 3 | 21e | UNUSUAL LEGACY (NZ) | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 3.46L | 4 | 50kg (cd 50.5kg) | $4.80F | ||
| 4 | 8 | TRUST IN YOU (NZ) | Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley | Tom Sherry | 3.47L | 13 | 53kg | $71 | ||
| 5 | 13 | ETNA ROSSO (IRE) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 4.84L | 12 | 51.5kg | 1.5kg | $11 | |
| 6 | 20e | STRATHTAY (NZ) | Chris Waller | Ms Winona Costin | 5.94L | 10 | 50kg | $26 | ||
| 7 | 15 | FIRST LIGHT (GB) | Chris Waller | Mark Du Plessis | 6.32L | 2 | 50kg | $21 | ||
| 8 | 18 | WYCLIF (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Andrew Adkins | 6.92L | 16 | 50kg | $51 | ||
| 9 | 5 | ALEGRON | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 7.17L | 5 | 54kg | $31 | ||
| 10 | 7 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Jason Collett | 8.01L | 8 | 54kg | $15 | ||
| 11 | 22e | MATUSALEM | Chris Waller | Ms Alysha Collett | 8.14L | 7 | 50kg | $13 | ||
| 12 | 3 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 8.17L | 14 | 55kg | $14 | ||
| 13 | 11 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Zac Wadick (a) | 8.24L | 3 | 51.5kg | $10 | ||
| 14 | 19e | IMMEDIACY (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Jett Stanley (a) | 10.1L | 17 | 50kg | $31 | ||
| 15 | 2 | MILITARY MISSION (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 10.12L | 1 | 55.5kg | $41 | ||
| 16 | 4 | QUE TEMPESTA (IRE) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 10.41L | 11 | 54.5kg | $12 | ||
| 17 | 6 | CLEVELAND (IRE) | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 16.91L | 15 | 54kg | $101 | ||
| 1 | KALAPOUR (IRE) | Kris Lees | Nash Rawiller | 0 | ||||||
| 9 | EL BODEGON (IRE) | Chris Waller | 0 | |||||||
| 12 | STAR OF INDIA (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Ms Alysha Collett | 0 | ||||||
| 17 | BERKSHIRE BREEZE (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 0 | |||||||
| 16 | MANZOICE | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 The Metropolitan Betting Odds
Updated The Metropolitan Handicap 2024 betting markets will be provided for punters below across the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival complete with links to the best The Metropolitan odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Just Fine ($1.75 in 2023) was the last The Metropolitan favourite to win.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 THE METROPOLITAN ODDS (Final Field)
2024 The Metropolitan Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 THE METROPOLITAN FORM GUIDE
2024 The Metropolitan Tips
Stay tuned for our insider The Metropolitan 2024 betting tips for the spring stayers to back and sack at Royal Randwick this Epsom Day.
- To Win: #11 Future History ($8 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Think Future History has been building up to a win in a race like The Metrop and looks at a nice price to salute in the Group 1 third-up and fit for Ciaron Maher who is on fire this season. The Showcasing seven-year-old caught the eye last time out in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield beaten narrowly on September 21 with 55.5kg. He will relish the step up in distance with winning form up to 2520m and the drop back to just 51.5kg here. Inexperienced hoop with apprentice Zac Wadick is a concern, but horse is going good enough and rates well here ahead of the spring majors.
2024 The Metropolitan Field & Barriers
The Metropolitan will be the last event for the contending runners at Sydney, although many of the well performing horses will continue their spring campaigns by taking part in some of the premier races of the year at the illustrious Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. The Metropolitan Handicap is an excellent lead-up race to the esteemed Group 1 Caulfield Cup, as it is run under much the same conditions.
Each season The Metropolitan field and barriers are released the week of the race attracting a capacity line-up of 18 starters plus four emergencies.
The official 2024 The Metropolitan Final Field & Barrier Draw will be announced the Tuesday of race week and published in full below once released.
The Metropolitan 2024 field features a capacity line-up of potential Caulfield Cup-bound stayers led in betting by French-bred import Land Legend with 51kg for Chris Waller and his stablemate First Light coming off a three-length Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality win from last weekend.
Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2024 The Metropolitan field and betting markets.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10x0213x48 | KALAPOUR (IRE) | Kris Lees | Nash Rawiller | 22 | 57kg | 108 | ||
| 2 | 01x3568x99 | MILITARY MISSION (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 1 | 55.5kg | 106 | ||
| 3 | 05x11404x4 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 18 | 55kg | 106 | ||
| 4 | 3x3x211x56 | QUE TEMPESTA (IRE) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 12 | 54.5kg | 105 | ||
| 5 | 08x06212x7 | ALEGRON | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 5 | 54kg | 104 | ||
| 6 | 49621x00x8 | CLEVELAND (IRE) | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 19 | 54kg | 104 | ||
| 7 | 72x6442x80 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Jason Collett | 9 | 54kg | 102 | ||
| 8 | 211626×630 | TRUST IN YOU (NZ) | Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley | Tom Sherry | 14 | 53kg | 100 | ||
| 9 | 90x0005x80 | EL BODEGON (IRE) | Chris Waller | 17 | 52.5kg | 99 | |||
| 10 | 1x0132x665 | ZARDOZI | James Cummings | Zac Lloyd (a) | 10 | 52kg | 104 | ||
| 11 | 30x0656x32 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Zac Wadick (a) | 3 | 51.5kg | 101 | ||
| 12 | 510x41x0x0 | STAR OF INDIA (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Ms Alysha Collett | 6 | 51.5kg | 99 | ||
| 13 | 0x871x3151 | ETNA ROSSO (IRE) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 13 | 51.5kg | 1.5kg | 97 | |
| 14 | x2755x1x06 | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Chris Waller | Reece Jones | 7 | 51kg | 98 | ||
| 15 | 75117×0441 | FIRST LIGHT (GB) | Chris Waller | Mark Du Plessis | 2 | 50kg | 98 | ||
| 16 | 0x88520x23 | MANZOICE | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 16 | 50kg | 96 | ||
| 17 | 1x7x211123 | BERKSHIRE BREEZE (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 15 | 50kg | 95 | |||
| 18 | 25×7610722 | WYCLIF (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Andrew Adkins | 20 | 50kg | 94 | ||
| 19e | 11155×67 | IMMEDIACY (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Jett Stanley (a) | 21 | 50kg | 88 | ||
| 20e | 6×51145133 | STRATHTAY (NZ) | Chris Waller | Ms Winona Costin (late alt) | 11 | 50kg | 88 | ||
| 21e | 211x41x312 | UNUSUAL LEGACY (NZ) | Chris Waller | Jay Ford (late alt) | 4 | 50kg | 86 | ||
| 22e | 42×0651011 | MATUSALEM | Chris Waller | Ms Alyssa Collett (late alt) | 8 | 50kg | 83 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 The Metropolitan Handicap Nominations & Weights
The 2024 The Metropolitan nominations are released by Racing NSW in early September attracting close to 100 entries each Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
The Metropolitan 2024 nominations close on Monday the 9th of September, 2024.
The Metropolitan Handicap 2024 weights are set for release on Monday the 16th of September, 2024.
The official 2024 The Metroplitan weights on the 75 nominations are now confirmed with reigning Melbourne Cup champion, Without A Fight, allocated the 61kg topweight.
All-in favourites in The Metropolitan betting, Ceolwulf and Eliyass, are allocated 54kg and 55kg respectively.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20x11x611x | WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) | G | 8 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 1 | 61kg | 61kg | 118 | |
| 2 | 75x5356x81 | BUCKAROO (GB) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 2= | 57kg | 57kg | 110 | |
| 3 | 310x0213x4 | KALAPOUR (IRE) | G | 8 | Kris Lees | 2= | 57kg | 57kg | 110 | |
| 4 | x5x110x27x | PLACE DU CARROUSEL (IRE) | M | 6 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 2= | 55kg | 55kg | 110 | |
| 5 | 74x274313x | BOIS D’ARGENT (GB) | G | 8 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 5= | 56.5kg | 56.5kg | 109 | |
| 6 | 666x01540x | HUETOR (FR) | G | 8 | Peter Snowden | 5= | 56.5kg | 56.5kg | 109 | |
| 7 | 319x513x2x | ROYAL CHAMPION (IRE) | G | 7 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 5= | 56.5kg | 56.5kg | 109 | |
| 8 | 4x331891x0 | POPTRONIC (GB) | M | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 8 | 54kg | 54kg | 108 | |
| 9 | 101x3568x9 | MILITARY MISSION (IRE) | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 9= | 55.5kg | 55.5kg | 107 | |
| 10 | 92311x07x0 | PENNYWEKA (NZ) | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 9= | 53.5kg | 53.5kg | 107 | |
| 11 | 11x211x1x1 | ELIYASS (FR) | G | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 11= | 55kg | 55kg | 106 | |
| 12 | 305x11404x | SERPENTINE (IRE) | G | 8 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 11= | 55kg | 55kg | 106 | |
| 13 | 86x2555x72 | HINGED | M | 6 | Chris Waller | 11= | 53kg | 53kg | 106 | |
| 14 | 28221x90x4 | ADELAIDE RIVER (IRE) | H | 5 | Kris Lees | 14= | 54.5kg | 54.5kg | 105 | |
| 15 | 1110x85x05 | JUST FINE (IRE) | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 14= | 54.5kg | 54.5kg | 105 | |
| 16 | 23x3x211x5 | QUE TEMPESTA (IRE) | G | 6 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 14= | 54.5kg | 54.5kg | 105 | |
| 17 | 17x034021x | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | M | 7 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 14= | 52.5kg | 52.5kg | 105 | |
| 18 | 008x06212x | ALEGRON | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker | 18= | 54kg | 54kg | 104 | |
| 19 | 872x6442x8 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | G | 6 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 18= | 54kg | 54kg | 104 | |
| 20 | 6x66228x61 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | G | 4 | Joseph Pride | 18= | 54kg | 54kg | 104 | |
| 21 | 49621x00x8 | CLEVELAND (IRE) | H | 7 | Kris Lees | 18= | 54kg | 54kg | 104 | |
| 22 | 06933×7552 | DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 18= | 54kg | 54kg | 104 | |
| 23 | 21x0570x07 | FRANCESCO GUARDI (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 18= | 54kg | 54kg | 104 | |
| 24 | 246×785111 | GOLDEN PATH (NZ) | G | 5 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 18= | 54kg | 54kg | 104 | |
| 25 | 21x0132x66 | ZARDOZI | M | 4 | James Cummings | 18= | 52kg | 52kg | 104 | |
| 26 | 9791x18x46 | POST IMPRESSIONIST (IRE) | G | 6 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 26 | 53.5kg | 53.5kg | 103 | |
| 27 | 1151x33x74 | CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 27= | 53kg | 53kg | 102 | |
| 28 | x1116x84x2 | MURAMASA | G | 5 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 27= | 53kg | 53kg | 102 | |
| 29 | 2211626×63 | TRUST IN YOU (NZ) | G | 6 | Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley | 27= | 53kg | 53kg | 102 | |
| 30 | 090x0005x8 | EL BODEGON (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 30= | 52.5kg | 52.5kg | 101 | |
| 31 | 024×550482 | LUNCIES (GB) | G | 8 | Kris Lees | 30= | 52.5kg | 52.5kg | 101 | |
| 32 | x28x4x8x11 | POINT KING (IRE) | G | 6 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 30= | 52.5kg | 52.5kg | 101 | |
| 33 | 37x7291x65 | SIR LUCAN (IRE) | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 30= | 52.5kg | 52.5kg | 101 | |
| 34 | 858x58610x | FANCY MAN (IRE) | G | 7 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 34= | 52kg | 52kg | 100 | |
| 35 | x00x3150x3 | GEAR UP (IRE) | G | 7 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 34= | 52kg | 52kg | 100 | |
| 36 | 130x0656x3 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 36= | 51.5kg | 51.5kg | 99 | |
| 37 | 1x513x00x8 | OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) | H | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 36= | 51.5kg | 51.5kg | 99 | |
| 38 | x510x41x0x | STAR OF INDIA (IRE) | G | 6 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 36= | 51.5kg | 51.5kg | 99 | |
| 39 | 1x2755x1x0 | LAND LEGEND (FR) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 39= | 51kg | 51kg | 98 | |
| 40 | 5x23622x44 | MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) | G | 6 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 39= | 51kg | 51kg | 98 | |
| 41 | 21625×0031 | REDSTONE WELL (IRE) | G | 6 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 39= | 51kg | 51kg | 98 | |
| 42 | 25916×0008 | INTERPRETATION (IRE) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 42 | 50.5kg | 50.5kg | 97 | |
| 43 | 3x10x162x4 | JENNILALA | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 43= | 50kg | 50kg | 96 | |
| 44 | 0x88520x23 | MANZOICE | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 43= | 50kg | 50kg | 96 | |
| 45 | 50x9190x09 | SUIZURO | G | 5 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 43= | 50kg | 50kg | 96 | |
| 46 | 2420×01222 | TOURISTIC (GB) | G | 6 | Peter Snowden | 43= | 50kg | 50kg | 96 | |
| 47 | 1x7x211123 | BERKSHIRE BREEZE (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 47 | 50kg | 50kg | 95 | |
| 48 | 1×37162117 | DASHING DUCHESS (NZ) | M | 5 | Symon Wilde | 48 | 50kg | 50kg | 93 | |
| 49 | 728x766x07 | BRAYDEN STAR (GB) | G | 6 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 49= | 50kg | 50kg | 92 | |
| 50 | 5x31123x8 | SAINT GEORGE (GB) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 49= | 50kg | 50kg | 92 | |
| 51 | 525×761072 | WYCLIF (GB) | G | 8 | Ciaron Maher | 49= | 50kg | 50kg | 92 | |
| 52 | 11155×6 | IMMEDIACY (NZ) | G | 4 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 52 | 50kg | 50kg | 88 | |
| 53 | 61605x483x | SHAIYHAR (IRE) | G | 6 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 53 | 50kg | 50kg | 87 | |
| 54 | 66×5114513 | STRATHTAY (NZ) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 54 | 50kg | 50kg | 86 | |
| 55 | 70x468x858 | CANBERRA LEGEND (IRE) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 55= | 50kg | 50kg | 85 | |
| 56 | 416x00x843 | RAF ATTACK (NZ) | G | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 55= | 50kg | 50kg | 85 | |
| 57 | 13x05580x4 | SUNSETS | G | 4 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 55= | 50kg | 50kg | 85 | |
| 58 | x211x41x31 | UNUSUAL LEGACY (NZ) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 58 | 50kg | 50kg | 84 | |
| 59 | 42×0651011 | MATUSALEM | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 59 | 50kg | 50kg | 83 | |
| 60 | 40x871x315 | ETNA ROSSO (IRE) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 60 | 50kg | 50kg | 82 | |
| 61 | 22113×0713 | LAUDING (NZ) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 61 | 50kg | 50kg | 81 | |
| 62 | x25058x001 | CONVENER (FR) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 62 | 50kg | 50kg | 80 | |
| 63 | 1x12x33267 | AGE OF SAIL (GB) | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 63 | 50kg | 50kg | 78 | |
| 64 | 211x4225x3 | QUANTUM CAT (USA) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 64 | 50kg | 50kg | 77 | |
| 65 | 375117×044 | FIRST LIGHT (GB) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 65= | 50kg | 50kg | 76 | |
| 66 | 533310×116 | MEDATSU (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 65= | 50kg | 50kg | 76 | |
| 67 | 21x766x805 | UP AND UNDER (FR) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 65= | 50kg | 50kg | 76 | |
| 68 | 13×3561737 | KAPAKIRI | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 68 | 50kg | 50kg | 75 | |
| 69 | 115x8x9 | WALTHAM (GB) | G | 5 | Matthew Smith | 69 | 50kg | 50kg | 74 | |
| 70 | 6234520252 | KUREDER (NZ) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 70= | 50kg | 50kg | 73 | |
| 71 | 2x51719x97 | RATTLE AND HUM (IRE) | G | 5 | Michael Freedman | 70= | 50kg | 50kg | 73 | |
| 72 | x6128159x6 | AHURIRI (NZ) | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 72 | 50kg | 50kg | 72 | |
| 73 | 7811×523 | CAMPALDINO (NZ) | G | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 73= | 50kg | 50kg | 69 | |
| 74 | 111x068x63 | WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) | G | 5 | Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson | 73= | 50kg | 50kg | 69 | |
| 75 | 4x1x9027x6 | MISTERKIPCHOGE (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 75 | 50kg | 50kg | 64 |
The Metropolitan Handicap History
The Metropolitan has a rich history dating all the way back to the race’s inception in 1863, which was won by Regno. It began as a principal race run over 16 furlongs until 1892 when the race distance was decreased to 12 furlongs. In 1920 the length of the event went up to 13 furlongs and was then converted to 2600m in 1972. Not long after in 1979 the Metropolitan Handicap became a Group 1 event. In 2001 the race distance was decreased by 200m bringing it to today’s length of 2400m. In its long history, there has only been one year the Metropolitan Handicap was not held and that was in 2007 due to the Equine Flu virus.
In 2021 jockey Hugh Bowman made history winning his 100th career Group 1 aboard Montefilia in The Metropolitan.
In 2023 the odds-on favourite Just Fine set a new The Metropolitan track record saluting for the punters in 2 minutes 26.11 seconds.
Recent Metropolitan Handicap Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Land Legend | 2 minutes 27.47 seconds |
| 2nd | Zardozi | ||
| 3rd | Unusual Legacy | ||
| 2023 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Just Fine | 2 minutes 26.11 seconds (R) |
| 2nd | Spirit Ridge | ||
| 3rd | Kalapour | ||
| 2022 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | No Compromise | 2 minutes 38.13 seconds |
| 2nd | Le Don De Vie | ||
| 3rd | Realm Of Flowers | ||
| 2021 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Montefilia | 2 minutes 27.79 seconds |
| 2nd | Entente | ||
| 3rd | Harpo Marx | ||
| 2020 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Mirage Dancer | 2 minutes 27.52 seconds |
| 2nd | Mugatoo | ||
| 3rd | Angel Of Truth | ||
| 2019 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Come Play With Me | 2 minutes 30.61 seconds |
| 2nd | Gallic Chieftain | ||
| 3rd | Sir Charles Road | ||
| 2018 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Patrick Erin | 2 minutes 29.61 seconds |
| 2nd | Brimham Rocks | ||
| 3rd | Sikandarabad | ||
| 2017 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Foundry | 2 minutes 27.73 seconds |
| 2nd | Big Duke | ||
| 3rd | Chocante | ||
| 2016 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Sir John Hawkwood | 2 minutes 27.42 seconds |
| 2nd | Antonio Giuseppe | ||
| 3rd | Allergic | ||
| 2015 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Magic Hurricane | 2 minutes 28.52 seconds |
| 2nd | Beaten Up | ||
| 3rd | Havana Cooler | ||
| 2014 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Junoob | 2 minutes 26.51 seconds |
| 2nd | Opinion | ||
| 3rd | Araldo | ||
| 2013 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Seville | 2 minutes 32.07 seconds |
| 2nd | Julienas | ||
| 3rd | Sneak A Peek | ||
| 2012 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Glencadem Gold | 2 minutes 29.71 seconds |
| 2nd | Kelinni | ||
| 3rd | Reuben Percival | ||
| 2011 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | The Verminator | 2 minutes 33.46 seconds |
| 2nd | Hawk Island | ||
| 3rd | Lamasery | ||
| 2010 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Herculian Prince | 2 minutes 29.95 seconds |
| 2nd | Mourayan | ||
| 3rd | No Wine No Song | ||
| 2009 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Speed Gifted | 2 minutes 35.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Lodge The Deeds | ||
| 3rd | Fiumicino | ||
| 2008 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Newport | 2 minutes 33 seconds |
| 2nd | Bianca | ||
| 3rd | Get Up Jude | ||
| 2007 Metropolitan Handicap |
Race Not Held | ||
| 2006 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Tawqeet | 2 minutes 31.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Activation | ||
| 3rd | Vanquished | ||
| 2005 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Railings | 2 minutes 28.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Run Rita Run | ||
| 3rd | Men At Work | ||
| 2004 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | County Tyrone | 2 minutes 33.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Itemise | ||
| 3rd | Don Raphael | ||
| 2003 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Bedouin | 2 minutes 34.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Daneborogh | ||
| 3rd | Bodie | ||
| 2002 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Victory Smile | 2 minutes 31.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Piachay | ||
| 3rd | Dress Circle | ||
| 2001 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Dress Circle | 2 minutes 29.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Danyon | ||
| 3rd | Homewrecker | ||
| 2000 Metropolitan Handicap |
1st | Coco Cobanna | 2 minutes 44.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Pasta Express | ||
| 3rd | Citra’s Prince | ||
next to go
