Waller has six runners in 2016 Metropolitan

Sydney’s premiership winning trainer Chris Waller will saddle up almost half of the thirteen horse field in the Group 1 $750,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Antonio Giuseppe, above, is one of six runners trainer Chris Waller will saddle up in The Metropolitan at Randwick, Photo by Steve Hart.

Antonio Giuseppe, above, is one of six runners trainer Chris Waller will saddle up in The Metropolitan at Randwick, Photo by Steve Hart.

Waller will have six runners in the Sydney Spring Carnival feature staying race with Who Shot Thebarman (Hugh Bowman), Storm The Stars (Benton Avdulla), Grand Marshall (Craig Williams), Junoob (Craig Newitt), Sacred Master (Tommy Berry) and Antonio Giuseppe (Glen Boss).

Grand Marshall has drawn the best of the Waller runners and has come up with the rails position while Sacred Master has drawn the widest at barrier twelve.

The front running Storm The Stars has drawn nicely at four, one inside of Antonio Giuseppe, top weight Who Shot Thebarman has come up with eight while nine year old Junoob will jump from gate ten.

With Hartnell, 58.5kg and Our Ivanhowe, 57.5kg, not among the final acceptors for the Metropolitan, the weights have been raised 1kg resulting in Who Shot Thebarman now becoming the top weight with 57kg with the horses weighted on the minimum now to carry 51kg.

One of those horses on the minimum is the Antonio Giuseppe who is chasing his fifth win on the trot as he takes on Group 1 company for the first time.

Sacred Master is also heading to Randwick on Saturday as a last start winner and will clash again with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained  Dee I Cee after the pair finished first and second in the Group 3 $175,000 XXXX Gold Newcastle Cup (2200m) on the Beaumont track at Newcastle on September 16.

Kerrin McEvoy takes the ride on Dee I Cee who has drawn midfield at barrier seven.

Trainer John O’Shea is chasing back to back wins in the Metropolitan with last year’s winner Magic Hurricane along with his promising stayer Allergic.

Magic Hurricane (barrier 3) has had three runs back from a spell for his preparation for the Metropolitan and is coming off a last start fourth behind Hartnell, Who Shot Thebarman and Storm The Stars in the Group 2 $200,000 Ascend Sales Trophies Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 17.

While stablemate Allergic (barrier 2) has put himself into contention for the Metropolitan with a last start win in the Group 3 $125,000 2016 Queen’s Cup (2400m) at Rosehill last Saturday.

Trainer John Thompson will saddle up Sir John Hawkwood who will jump from barrier six with Blake Spriggs to ride and Kris Lees has Newcastle Cup fourth placegetter Sense Of Occasion who has drawn the outside of the field with lightweight jockey Corey Brown to partner the six year old.

Antonio Giuseppe has been installed the $4.60 favourite for The Metropolitan at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of stablemate Sacred Master at $5.50 and Sir John Hawkwood at $6.

Market order for The Metropolitan at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Antonio Giuseppe, $5.50 Scared Master, $6 Sir John Hawkwood, $8 Allergic, $11 Who Shot Thebarman, Storm The Stars, Magic Hurricane, $14 Junoob, $16 Dee I Cee, $17 Sense Of Occasion, $21 Grand Marshall, $67 Amexed, $301 Quartermaster.

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.