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The Metropolitan

Australia | FEATURE RACE GUIDE

History

LAND LEGEND winning the JAMES SQUIRE METROPOLITAN at Randwick in Australia.
LAND LEGEND winning the JAMES SQUIRE METROPOLITAN at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

The Metropolitan is a Group 1 race run under Handicap conditions for open class horses at Randwick conducted by the Australian Turf Club.

The Metropolitan is run over 2400m. It was first run in 1866 and was won by Bylong.

The Metropolitan has been run over the 2400m for some time but was as much as two miles in the early days. It was also 2600m for many editions.

Except under the Principal Race scale, the Metropolitan has always been a Group 1.

The Metropolitan was called the Great Metropolitan Stakes but since 1898 has been the Metropolitan Handicap.

From 1995 to 1999 the AJC changed the conditions to a SW&P event and mares absolutely cleaned up. Last mare to win the Metropolitan prior to Montefilia in 2021 was Coco Cobanna in 2000.

Like so many of the Randwick G1s, Gai Waterhouse has dominated - winning the Metrop on 9 occasions (the last with Adrian Bott).

Te Akau Nick was Gai Waterhouse's first Group 1 winner in 1992.

Junoob lost 2014 Metropolitan on a positive swab. It was awarded to Opinion.

In consecutive years Railings and Tawqeet won the Caulfield Cup after the Metropolitan.

Following Glastonbury's win in 1994, Randwick was the subject of a demonstration following a big form reversal.

Come Play With Me became Chris Waller's fourth Group 1 of the day around the country in 2019 which was an Australian record.

It was Hugh Bowman's 100th G1 win at the time when Montefilia got up by a nose in 2021. However due to a previous G1 winner losing a race, it was actually his 99th. He would easily pass the 100 in the Autumn though.

Just Fine winning in 2023 meant that for the first time in Australian history, two female riders had taken G1s on the same card (Kathy O'Hara & Rachel King).

The Metropolitan/Caulfield Cup (4 times) – Tawqeet most recent in 2006.

The Metropolitan/Melbourne Cup (5 times) – Macdougal most recent in 1959.

Last Newcastle Cup/Metrop double – Glencadam Gold 2012.

Last Colin Stephen/Metrop double – Railings 2005.

The 2007 race was not held due to the Equine Influenza break out.

The Metropolitan was worth $750,000 in 2025.

Notable winners of The Metropolitan include Land Legend (2024), Just Fine (2023), Montefilia (2021), Tawqeet (2006), Railings (2005), County Tyrone (2004), Dress Circle (2001), Electronic (1995), Te Akau Nick (1992), Natski (1988), Born To Be Queen (1986), Hayai (1983/1984), Ming Dynasty (1978), Battle Heights (1976), Analie (1973), Tails (1969/1970), Macdougal (1959), Straight Draw (1957), Redcraze (1956), Delta (1951), Beau Vite (1940), Malt King (1911), The Barb (1868) and Tim Whiffler (1867).

The 2024 Metropolitan was won by Land Legend from Zardozi and Unusual Legacy.


Racing and Sports

Previous The Metropolitan Winners

Date Horse Jockey WT Trainer BP
LAND LEGEND (FR) 4G
GALILEO (IRE) - LANDIKUSIC (IRE) DANSILI (GB)
R JONES 51.0 CHRIS WALLER 6
JUST FINE (IRE) 5G
SEA THE STARS (IRE) - BINT ALMATAR (USA) KINGMAMBO (USA)
RACHEL KING 50.0 G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT 2
NO COMPROMISE (NZ) 6G
PINS (AUS) - BAGGY GREEN (AUS) GALILEO (IRE)
TOMMY BERRY 53.5 CHRIS WALLER 4
MONTEFILIA (AUS) 4M
KERMADEC (NZ) - BANA WU (GB) SHIROCCO (GER)
HUGH BOWMAN 55.5 DAVID PAYNE 13
MIRAGE DANCER (GB) 6H
FRANKEL (GB) - HEAT HAZE (GB) GREEN DESERT (USA)
N RAWILLER 55.5 TRENT BUSUTTIN & NATALIE YOUNG 3
COME PLAY WITH ME (AUS) 5G
BLACKFRIARS (AUS) - RUSSIAN PLAYMATE (AUS) DR JOHNSON (USA)
B AVDULLA 54.0 CHRIS WALLER 3
PATRICK ERIN (NZ) 7G
GALLANT GURU (AUS) - MEGA BABE (NZ) PERSONAL ESCORT (USA)
C W BROWN 51.0 CHRIS WALLER 4
FOUNDRY (IRE) 7G
GALILEO (IRE) - SHARP LISA (USA) DIXIELAND BAND (USA)
MICHAEL DEE 50.5 ROBERT HICKMOTT 8
SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (IRE) 7G
SIR PERCY (GB) - ATHENE (IRE) ROUSILLON (USA)
BLAKE SPRIGGS 54.0 JOHN P THOMPSON 6
MAGIC HURRICANE (IRE) 5G
HURRICANE RUN (IRE) - CLOSE REGARDS (IRE) DANEHILL (USA)
JAMES MCDONALD 55.5 JOHN O'SHEA 1
OPINION (IRE) 5G
OASIS DREAM (GB) - KILTUBBER (IRE) SADLER'S WELLS (USA)
T ANGLAND 56.0 CHRIS WALLER 14
SEVILLE (GER) 5H
GALILEO (IRE) - SILVERSKAYA (USA) SILVER HAWK (USA)
HUGH BOWMAN 55.5 ROBERT HICKMOTT 8
GLENCADAM GOLD (IRE) 4G
REFUSE TO BEND (IRE) - SANDRELLA (IRE) DARSHAAN (GB)
TOMMY BERRY 53.0 MS G WATERHOUSE 4
THE VERMINATOR (AUS) 5G
JEUNE (GB) - FRAAR SIDE (AUS) FRAAR (USA)
C NEWITT 52.0 CHRIS WALLER 16
HERCULIAN PRINCE (NZ) 5G
YAMANIN VITAL (NZ) - SEA ISLAND (NZ) WOODMAN (USA)
N RAWILLER 55.5 MS G WATERHOUSE 6
SPEED GIFTED (GB) 5G
MONTJEU (IRE) - GOOD STANDING (USA) DISTANT VIEW (USA)
C W BROWN 53.0 D L FREEDMAN 6
NEWPORT (AUS) 6G
ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) - SIBELIENNE (GB) NISHAPOUR (FR)
PETER WELLS 52.0 PAUL PERRY 4
TAWQEET (USA) 4H
KINGMAMBO (USA) - CAERLESS (IRE) CAERLEON (USA)
D DUNN 54.0 D A HAYES 9
RAILINGS (AUS) 4G
ZABEEL (NZ) - LA SUFFRAGETTE (NZ) PALACE MUSIC (USA)
D BEADMAN 53.5 JOHN HAWKES 14
COUNTY TYRONE (AUS) 6G
DANEWIN (AUS) - NICE CHOICE (GB) TOUCHING WOOD (USA)
C W BROWN 56.5 KRIS LEES 1
BEDOUIN (AUS) 6G
SNAADEE (USA) - PAMPAS DANCER (AUS) LAUDHAM STAR (AUS)
G BOSS 54.0 JOHN O'SHEA 15
VICTORY SMILE (NZ) 6G
VICTORY DANCE (IRE) - FLUORIDE (NZ) CRESTED WAVE (USA)
D BEASLEY 52.0 D LOGAN 13
DRESS CIRCLE (NZ) 5G
ZABEEL (NZ) - FLIGHT QUEEN (NZ) NOBLE BIJOU (USA)
L BEASLEY 51.0 MS G WATERHOUSE 9
COCO COBANNA (NZ) 4M
CASUAL LIES (USA) - COBANNA (NZ) STAR WAY (GB)
C MUNCE 52.0 MS G WATERHOUSE 12

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