Smith says Kingdoms is the right horse for the Metropolitan

Eagle Farm trainer Brian Smith believes he has the right horse in Kingdoms to win the Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Kingdoms is one of the main chances in the Metropolitan at Randwick.

Kingdoms is one of the main chances in the Metropolitan at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Kingdoms showed that he was ready to take his place in the Metropolitan after a flashing second to He’s Your Man in the Group 3 $125,000 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on September 13.

The High Chaparral gelding has also won a 1200m Warwick Farm trial since and Smith is keen on his chances on the weekend.

“I don’t need encouraging, I know what I’ve got,” Smith told the Sportsman.

“This is the race we’ve had planned for him, he’s drawn well so he should get a nice run.”

“He’s tracking up very well for the race, it is an ideal race so we’ll just keep our fingers crossed.”

Top Brisbane jockey Larry Cassidy will again be aboard Kingdoms and has kept an eye on the five year old travelling back and forward from Queensland to partner him in the Warwick Farm trial and his last hit out on Wednesday morning.

Smith took over the training of Kingdoms from Sydney trainer John O’Shea prior to the Brisbane Winter Carnival and prepared the gelding for a first up win in the Listed $100,000 Centenary Classic Mercedes Benz Open Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 21.

Kingdoms has also won over the Randwick 2400m and while under the care of O’Shea took out the 2013 Listed $100,000 City Tattersalls Club Cup.

A win by Kingdoms in the Metropolitan could earn him a penalty for the Group 1 $3m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 and push him up the order of entry and closer to gaining a start at Caulfield.

In the latest market order for the Metropolitan with Ladbrokes.com.au Kingdoms is marked at $11.

The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Spillway heads the betting at $4.60 slightly ahead of Chris Waller’s stayer Junoob at $4.80 and La Amistad ($7.50) from the Hawkes stables.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.