Progressive import adds Soul to 2025 Metropolitan Handicap

Chris Waller admits Soul Of Spain has been the revelation of this campaign, with the Metropolitan favourite returning to the yard “a different horse”.

A winner to 3300m in Ireland, the gelding’s first local prep featured good runs over a mile and 2000m before he finally struck pay dirt when raised to 2200m at its close.

Fresh this time, he posted back-to-back Queensland wins at trips short of his best, then translated that form to stakes level with a strong success in the Newcastle Cup (2300m).

Now he stretches to 2400m for Saturday’s Group 1 Metropolitan at Randwick, where he carries a featherweight 50.5kg.

“He came across from Ireland with some pretty good form,” Waller said.

“First prep we never really got him up to a distance until he won his last start before a spell and he has just come back a different horse.

“He gets in very well with only a half-kilo penalty (for winning at Newcastle).”

Both Soul Of Spain and stablemate Birdman opened equal favourites, but after drawing 11 and 17 respectively on Tuesday, Soul Of Spain tightened to $4.80 while Birdman drifted to $6.

Birdman’s résumé includes a 2600m win overseas and a second in the autumn’s Chairman’s Handicap (2600m), although his sole Australian victory to date came at 2000m in the Kingston Town Stakes last start.

“Birdman has got the Sydney form. He’s got good, sharp form whereas Soul Of Spain, all we’re going off is Newcastle,” Waller said.

“Soul Of Spain will definitely run the distance. Birdman should run the distance. I guess that’s the only difference, that Soul Of Spain has ticked that box.”

Waller’s Metropolitan squad is rounded out by More Felons, Travolta and Etna Rosso as he chases a seventh win in the feature, his latest coming last year when Land Legend narrowly denied Zardozi.

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