Gai Waterhouse holds a strong hand in The Metropolitan
Gai Waterhouse already holds the record for the number of The Metropolitan winners but rarely has the Hall of Fame trainer gone into the Group 1 with as strong a hand as she holds this year.
Not only do Waterhouse and her training partner Adrian Bott have all-in even money favourite, Just Fine, their support cast in the $750,000 2400-metre event comprises two Group 1 winners and a last-start country cup winner.
Just Fine, a six-year-old son of Sea The Stars, has been a revelation since arriving at Tulloch Lodge from Sir Michael Stoute in the UK, making it back-to-back wins to start his Australian career with an easy victory in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) on September 16.
“He’s going from strength to strength, he’s a very talented stayer, both his wins have been eye-catching and he’s ticked over beautifully this week in his work,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s a rising star and he’s lightly weighted and you can’t beat those lightweight stayers, can you?
“He’s got a lovely turn of foot and he’s a really exciting horse. I can understand why they’ve got him favourite and he should be.”
Just Fine will carry just 50kg, at the other end of the scale to stablemate and Sydney Cup-winning topweight Knights Order, who has 57.5kg.
Waterhouse and Bott also have last-start Newcastle Cup winner Military Mission in with 51.5kg, while Major Beel gets to 2400m for the first time since winning the Group 1 ATC Australian Derby in April this year.
Major Beel has had three runs since a break after that win, the best of them a second placing in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) two starts ago, and Waterhouse is adamant he will love the step up in trip.
“This will suit him because he gets to a distance needs to get to, that’s what held him back so far,” Waterhouse said.
The Metropolitan was the first Group 1 win for Waterhouse, thanks to Te Akau Nick in 1992, while she won five of the seven between 1995 and 2001; Electronic (1995), Hula Flight (1996), In Joyment (1998), Coco Cobanna (2000) and Dress Circle (2001).
Waterhouse has also won with Herculian Prince (2010) and Glencadam Gold (2012).
More Racing News
Ingham triumph puts Yorkshire in 2026 Doncaster Mile mix
Tom Charlton may have been only five years old when John O’Shea secured the 2000 Villiers Stakes, but on Saturday the duo jointly celebrated Yorkshire’s commanding victory in the modern equivalent, The Ingham (1600m), at Randwick. The triumph delivered O’Shea a fourth win in the prestigious race and marked Charlton’s first...
Weeping Woman too good in the 2025 Razor Sharp Handicap
Joe Pride’s team fired on all cylinders on Saturday, with six runners producing two wins, three seconds and a third across three states, including a dominant stable quinella in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick. Weeping Woman ($2.60 fav) finished strongest to overhaul Coal Crusher ($6), only 35 minutes after...
Warnie flies late to win The Supernova 2025
With a composed ride inspired by Mark Zahra, jockey Thomas Stockdale steered Warnie to a breakthrough victory in the lucrative The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham. It was a signature moment for Stockdale, who delivered a tactically brilliant performance as the Ciaron Maher-trained runner stormed to victory in Southside Racing’s second slot...
Taramansour provides locals with a win in the Pakenham Cup 2025
Taramansour produced a remarkable form reversal to hand Phillip Stokes his first victory in the Pakenham Cup, delivering an emotional local triumph. Stokes, who splits his time between his Morphettville operation and his Pakenham base, has had the Cup on his radar since establishing himself at the training centre in 2019. On...
Bargain buy Where’s The Circus dominates 2025 Inglis Nursery
Jean Van Overmeire made the right call in giving up a full provincial book at Newcastle to focus on a single Randwick mount, with Where’s The Circus landing a stunning upset in the Inglis Nursery. The filly, picked up online for just $1250, had impressed Van Overmeire when winning a recent...
Kris Lees sets sights on another summer strike
Kris Lees has frequently struck during Sydney’s summer feature program, and he will again field a strong hand across Randwick’s stakes races on Saturday. Lees’ achievements over the past decade include victories in The Ingham with Loch Eagle and Sense Of Occasion, as well as Razor Sharp Handicap wins with Special...
2025 Pakenham Cup: Browne’s roll the dice one more time
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
Yorkshire out to make a summer statement in 2025 The Ingham
John O’Shea’s first major breakthrough as a solo trainer came 25 years ago when Grey And Gold captured the Villiers Stakes. He added another victory with On A High and later won the race again in its rebranded form as The Ingham (1600m) in 2022 with Kirwin’s Lane. Now a decorated horseman...
Fox on the hunt of 2025 The Supernova win
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
Warm weather suits Rey Magnerio in 2025 The Gold Rush
Trainer Robbie Griffiths is already turning his attention to next autumn’s The Quokka, believing Rey Magnerio’s successful transition to Perth makes a return visit highly likely. Before that, the gelding steps into Saturday’s Group 3 The Gold Rush (1400m), his second appearance in Western Australia. Griffiths said the gelding has adapted superbly...