This year’s Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) may not have the star power of some of the other Group 1 races on a massive day of racing, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for a fill up!
Let’s take a closer look at each runner locking horns for their slice of $750,000!
1 – Mustajeer – $61
Hit the line well in the Kingston Town Stakes but would need to rapidly improve to be in this. Will appreciate the step up in distance, and could possibly run a hole if everything goes right.
2 – Mugatoo – $2.90 ???
Hard to knock this guy, has been outstanding this preparation and importantly stayed the 2300m trip in the Newcastle Gold Cup last start and still had gas in the tank to show off his turn of foot. There’s more opposition here, but he’s drawn well and is in great form, it’d take something out of left field to beat him.
?MUGATOO? powers home to win the Gr3 Newcastle Gold Cup @newcastleraces_ for @Leesracing and @ausbloodstock2
November Foal sold by @NewtownStud to @HerbertstownHse ??pic.twitter.com/JMX5fZC0Ua
— Goffs (@Goffs1866) September 18, 2020
3 – Mirage Dancer – $15 ??
Quality import who has been searching for longer, and ran well behind Al Galayel on an unsuitable wet track at The Valley. Will be super fit on the short turnaround and looks overs at the $15, goes in everything and is a knockout chance.
4 – Wu Gok – $71
Will get to the front and contest the lead, but can’t have him here on the firm surface, needs it wet and won’t get that this time around.
5 – Raheen House – $101
Hasn’t looked near it this preparation and would have to improve lengths.
6 – Etah James – $67
Won the Sydney Cup over two miles early in the year and hasn’t raced since then. Probably needs the run but watch betting.
7 – Shared Ambition
Scratched
8 – Brimham Rocks – $9 ??
Has run well in his two outings so far and the market certainly hasn’t missed him, in single figures which is probably short enough. Has drawn wide so it’ll be up to Avdulla to blend him in somewhere with cover, and is a must for exotics.
9 – Hush Writer – $7 ??
One of the chances to upset Mugatoo, has drawn perfectly and will make his own luck on speed. Will need to find something to turn the tables but is now third up and ready to peak.
10 – Lord Belvedere
Scratched
11 – Carif – $46 ?
His form over 2000m is quite good, and while it’s tough to see him winning, he’s third up and ready to peak and could run a place at the massive odds.
12 – Rondinella – $17
Hit the line well over the 2000m last start and should relish the jump in trip, but would need to steadily improve to be a factor.
13 – Angel Of Truth – $26
Won the Australian Derby over this track and trip but hasn’t done much since. I think he’s more of a wet tracker and would need everything to go right, but could certainly run a place.
Angel of Truth wins the Australian Derby.
A perfect front running ride from Corey Brown!#7Racing pic.twitter.com/in3CfWqOSq
— 7HorseRacing ? (@7horseracing) April 6, 2019
14 – Azuro – $251
You could write your own ticket here, not in this.
15 – Paths Of Glory – $26 ??
Won the Wyong Cup well but didn’t shifted out in the straight and lost all momentum last start. Could very well be in this with some luck.
16 – Girl Tuesday – $23
Doesn’t look up to this in its current form.
17 – Miss Sentimental – $251
Comes highly rated from New Zealand and will only benefit from the step up in distance, but hasn’t looked likely so far.
The Kozi Asano-ridden Oaks winner Sentimental Miss ($8.10) lets down with a big finish to claim Listed honours in the Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup for @lisalattaracing and @_GoRacing pic.twitter.com/zWF2Zhh1Cj
— TAB Racing (@TAB_Racing) November 30, 2019
18 – Zebrowski – $8 ??
Had the flashing light run in the Winx Stakes but hasn’t set the world on fire since then and would need to improve to be in the finish. Is a winning chance at his best and should enjoy the 2400m, but there’s a query on his performances on firm tracks.
19e – Norway – $151
Not here.
20e – Attention Run – $46
Has snuck a start and everything would have to go right to place.
21e – Sir Charles Road – $251
You could write your own ticket here.
22e – Grey Lion – $151
Unlikely to start.
Tip: 2-9-3-15
2020 Metropolitan Handicap Odds
*Odds correct at time of publishing article.
| Horse | Win | Place | ||
| 1 | Mustajeer (5)J: Hugh Bowman 58kg T: K A Lees | $51.00 | $10.00 | Bet Now |
| 2 | Mugatoo (7)J: Kerrin Mcevoy 57kg T: K A Lees | $2.70 | $1.40 | Bet Now |
| 3 | Mirage Dancer (3)J: Nash Rawiller 55.5kg T: T Busuttin & N Young | $14.00 | $4.20 | Bet Now |
| 4 | Wu Gok (13)J: Sam Clipperton 55kg T: C J Waller | $51.00 | $10.00 | Bet Now |
| 5 | Raheen House (12)J: Jason Collett 54.5kg T: K A Lees | $71.00 | $17.00 | Bet Now |
| 6 | Etah James (6)J: Regan Bayliss 53.5kg T: C Maher & D Eustace | $61.00 | $13.00 | Bet Now |
| 7 | Shared Ambition (19)J: James Mcdonald 53.5kg T: C J Waller | $6.50 | $2.40 | Bet Now |
| 8 | Brimham Rocks (16)J: Brenton Avdulla 53.5kg T: C J Waller | $8.00 | $2.80 | Bet Now |
| 9 | Hush Writer (2)J: Tim Clark 53kg T: G Waterhouse & A Bott | $7.00 | $2.50 | Bet Now |
| 10 | Lord Belvedere (10)J: Ms Kathy O’hara 52.5kg T: C Maher & D Eustace | $13.00 | $4.00 | Bet Now |
| 11 | Carif (9)J: Robbie Dolan 52.5kg T: P & P Snowden | $34.00 | $7.50 | Bet Now |
| 12 | Rondinella (15)J: Ms Rachel King 51.5kg T: J A O’shea | $16.00 | $4.60 | Bet Now |
| 13 | Angel Of Truth (11)J: Tommy Berry 51.5kg T: M, W & J Hawkes | $21.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
| 14 | Azuro (21)J: Ms Louise Day 51.5kg T: C Maher & D Eustace | $151.00 | $26.00 | Bet Now |
| 15 | Paths Of Glory (17)J: Ms Kathy O’hara 50.5kg T: R & M Freedman | $21.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
| 16 | Girl Tuesday (22)J: Glen Boss 50kg T: C E Conners | $20.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
| 17 | Miss Sentimental (18)J: Ms Jess Taylor 50kg T: C J Waller | $151.00 | $26.00 | Bet Now |
| 18 | Zebrowski (4)J: James Innes Jnr 50kg T: M, W & J Hawkes | $6.50 | $2.40 | Bet Now |
| 19 | Norway (20)J: Ms Alysha Collett 50.5kg T: C J Waller | $101.00 | $21.00 | Bet Now |
| 20 | Attention Run (1)J: Andrew Gibbons 50kg T: K A Lees | $31.00 | $7.00 | Bet Now |
| 21 | Sir Charles Road (8)J: Unknown 51kg T: L O’sullivan & A Scott | $151.00 | $26.00 | Bet Now |
| 22 | Grey Lion (14)J: Unknown 50kg T: Matthew Smith | $91.00 | $20.00 | Bet Now |
