Allergic is set to back-up in the 2016 The Metropolitan next weekend after he recorded a tough victory in the 2016 Queen’s Cup at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Allergic was too strong for his rivals in the final stages of the 2016 Queen’s Cup at Royal Randwick this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart

Zero To Ten took up the running in the race that is normally known as the Colin Stephen Quality and he opened up a gap on the rest of the field coming around the back straight before jockey Tim Clark made a move on Alegria with 750 metres left to run.

Alegria quickly found the lead and Junoob was able to tack onto to his back, while Allergic was still a couple of lengths behind after being settled at the tail of the field in the early stages of the race.

Junoob and Alegria did not go away in the final stages of the race, but it was Allergic who finished the strongest to record the biggest win of his racing career to date.

Jockey James McDonald was pleased with the way that Allergic found the line in the final stages of the Queen’s Cup, but he indicated that the track was still a touch on the firm side for the five-year-old.

“He relaxed really good and I thought that was the key to winning the race,” McDonald said.

“It doesn’t matter where I was as long as I was relaxed because he has a good turn-of-foot and he showed that today.

“He was alright, but I still think that the track was a bit too firm for him.

“I felt him let down better today.

“I’d say if there is give in the ground he will go there (to The Metropolitan), but I wouldn’t want to see him on track like that.”

Junoob toughed it out to the line in his usual consistent fashion to finish second, while Alegria was unable to take advantage of an excellent ride from Clark in third.

Trainer John O’Shea confirmed that Allergic will back-up in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick next Saturday and the son of Street Cry will return to the highest level of racing for the first time since he finished third behind Delicacy and Werther in the 2015 edition of the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2400m).

Allergic has been allocated 50.5 kilograms in The Metropolitan weights and he is no assured of a place in the Group 1 event.

Godolphin are chasing back-to-back wins in The Metropolitan after winning the 2015 edition of the race with imported stayer Magic Hurricane.