Search

Type atleast three letters to find.

The Metropolitan

Australia | FEATURE RACE GUIDE

History

JUST FINE winning the JAMES SQUIRE METROPOLITAN at Randwick in Australia.
JUST FINE winning the JAMES SQUIRE METROPOLITAN at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

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 2023.

Notable winners of The Metropolitan include 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 2023 Metropolitan was won by Just Fine from Spirit Ridge and Kalapour.


Racing and Sports

Previous The Metropolitan Winners

DateHorseJockeyWTTrainerBP
JUST FINE (IRE) 5G
SEA THE STARS (IRE) - BINT ALMATAR (USA) KINGMAMBO (USA)
RACHEL KING50.0G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT2
NO COMPROMISE (NZ) 6G
PINS (AUS) - BAGGY GREEN (AUS) GALILEO (IRE)
TOMMY BERRY53.5CHRIS WALLER4
MONTEFILIA (AUS) 4M
KERMADEC (NZ) - BANA WU (GB) SHIROCCO (GER)
HUGH BOWMAN55.5DAVID PAYNE13
MIRAGE DANCER (GB) 6H
FRANKEL (GB) - HEAT HAZE (GB) GREEN DESERT (USA)
N RAWILLER55.5TRENT BUSUTTIN & NATALIE YOUNG3
COME PLAY WITH ME (AUS) 5G
BLACKFRIARS (AUS) - RUSSIAN PLAYMATE (AUS) DR JOHNSON (USA)
B AVDULLA54.0CHRIS WALLER3
PATRICK ERIN (NZ) 7G
GALLANT GURU (AUS) - MEGA BABE (NZ) PERSONAL ESCORT (USA)
C W BROWN51.0CHRIS WALLER4
FOUNDRY (IRE) 7G
GALILEO (IRE) - SHARP LISA (USA) DIXIELAND BAND (USA)
MICHAEL DEE50.5ROBERT HICKMOTT8
SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (IRE) 7G
SIR PERCY (GB) - ATHENE (IRE) ROUSILLON (USA)
BLAKE SPRIGGS54.0JOHN P THOMPSON6
MAGIC HURRICANE (IRE) 5G
HURRICANE RUN (IRE) - CLOSE REGARDS (IRE) DANEHILL (USA)
JAMES MCDONALD55.5JOHN O'SHEA1
OPINION (IRE) 5G
OASIS DREAM (GB) - KILTUBBER (IRE) SADLER'S WELLS (USA)
T ANGLAND56.0CHRIS WALLER14
SEVILLE (GER) 5H
GALILEO (IRE) - SILVERSKAYA (USA) SILVER HAWK (USA)
HUGH BOWMAN55.5ROBERT HICKMOTT8
GLENCADAM GOLD (IRE) 4G
REFUSE TO BEND (IRE) - SANDRELLA (IRE) DARSHAAN (GB)
TOMMY BERRY53.0MS G WATERHOUSE4
THE VERMINATOR (AUS) 5G
JEUNE (GB) - FRAAR SIDE (AUS) FRAAR (USA)
C NEWITT52.0CHRIS WALLER16
HERCULIAN PRINCE (NZ) 5G
YAMANIN VITAL (NZ) - SEA ISLAND (NZ) WOODMAN (USA)
N RAWILLER55.5MS G WATERHOUSE6
SPEED GIFTED (GB) 5G
MONTJEU (IRE) - GOOD STANDING (USA) DISTANT VIEW (USA)
C W BROWN53.0D L FREEDMAN6
NEWPORT (AUS) 6G
ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) - SIBELIENNE (GB) NISHAPOUR (FR)
PETER WELLS52.0PAUL PERRY4
TAWQEET (USA) 4H
KINGMAMBO (USA) - CAERLESS (IRE) CAERLEON (USA)
D DUNN54.0D A HAYES9
RAILINGS (AUS) 4G
ZABEEL (NZ) - LA SUFFRAGETTE (NZ) PALACE MUSIC (USA)
D BEADMAN53.5JOHN HAWKES14
COUNTY TYRONE (AUS) 6G
DANEWIN (AUS) - NICE CHOICE (GB) TOUCHING WOOD (USA)
C W BROWN56.5KRIS LEES1
BEDOUIN (AUS) 6G
SNAADEE (USA) - PAMPAS DANCER (AUS) LAUDHAM STAR (AUS)
G BOSS54.0JOHN O'SHEA15
VICTORY SMILE (NZ) 6G
VICTORY DANCE (IRE) - FLUORIDE (NZ) CRESTED WAVE (USA)
D BEASLEY52.0D LOGAN13
DRESS CIRCLE (NZ) 5G
ZABEEL (NZ) - FLIGHT QUEEN (NZ) NOBLE BIJOU (USA)
L BEASLEY51.0MS G WATERHOUSE9
COCO COBANNA (NZ) 4M
CASUAL LIES (USA) - COBANNA (NZ) STAR WAY (GB)
C MUNCE52.0MS G WATERHOUSE12

Related News

Aliraaj poised for another win for loyal owners

Trainer Matt Kropp is hopeful Aliraaj can give his loyal owners, the Hover family, another success at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Neindorf confident of quick recovery

Leading rider Lachlan Neindorf is confident he’ll be back in the saddle next Saturday after injuring his arm in a race fall at Murray Bridge on Wednesday.

Oaks shot for Sandown winner

The Australasian Oaks is on the program for Coco Sun after her first-up win at Sandown.

Taylor answers the call

The 2024 National Apprentice Race Series (NARS) begins at Murray Bridge in South Australia on Wednesday, with Tasmania forced to make a change to its original line-up of apprentices.

2024 Golden Slipper: Race History

The Race History of the Golden Slipper run at Rosehill on Saturday shows some magic moments.

Posthumous Group One honour for grand producer

El Vencedor’s career-best performance at Ellerslie to triumph at Group One level was tinged with a bittersweet note for breeder-owners David Price and Mark Freeman.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au