After the Flight Stakes and Epsom Handicap run at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday, punters get one final Group 1 to see out the major Sydney Spring Racing Carnival meet with the 2013 The Metropolitan Handicap bringing the day’s racing to an end.

Prince Cheri is out to become just the third favourite since 1983 to win The Metropolitan. Photo: Steve Hart.

Running as Race 9 at 5:25pm (AEST) this year’s $400,000 Group 1 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) is shaping up as a top staying showdown to enjoy a punt on this weekend.

The field is down to 14 runners after Gwenda Markwell withdrew their known wet tracker Peal Of Bells due to injury.

There are plenty of stars left in the mix however including the favourite Prince Cheri ($3.80).

Drawn in gate two, and getting in with just 52.5kg, the David Vandyke-trained Lando stallion shoots for their fifth career win from seven starts here.

They have won their last two on the trot, most recently beating the likes of Honorius and Julienas in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on September 14.

Prince Cheri is now tipped to improve on that again when they go up to the mile and a half, a distance they won their opening two career starts over in France last year.

Other gallopers high up The Metropolitan betting markets are then Chris Waller’s last start Hill Stakes winner Moriarty ($4.60), market mover Julienas ($6) prepared by last year’s winning trainer Waterhouse and the Lloyd Williams-owned Seville ($9).

That’s the story told by The Metropolitan odds.

But before you rush out and place your bets make sure you know all The Metropolitan facts below based on the form guide, race history and betting stats on this important spring classic.

2013 The Metropolitan Form Facts & Betting Stats

• Last year’s The Metropolitan winner was the Gai Waterhouse-trained Glencadam Gold who won by four lengths after jumping from barrier four (of 12) with Tommy Berry aboard for their fourth win on the trot
• This year Gai Waterhouse will shoot for her incredible ninth The Metropolitan trophy, and second straight, saddling up #4 Julienas ($6) and #14 Danas Best ($31)
• Tommy Berry will vie for back-to-back The Metropolitan trophies riding #4 Julieans from barrier 12
• The Metropolitan barrier last year’s winner Glencadam Gold jumped from (4) belongs this year to one of the race’s major roughies #12 Saint Encosta ($201)
• Barrier four is the most successful gate in the past three decades producing six winners
• The next best barrier since 1983 producing four winners is then gate nine which was originally drawn by #3 Seville but with the early scratching will have #10 I’m Imposing ($17) start from it
• Glencadam Gold was one of only two last start winners in the past 10 years to win along with Railings (2005)
• There are three last start winners in the race this year with #2 Moriarty (Group 2 Hill Stakes, 2000m, Randwick, 21/09/2013), #4 Julienas (Group 3 Colin Stephen Handicap, 2400m, Rosehill, 28/09/2013) and #7 Prince Cheri (Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes, 2000m, Rosehill, 14/09/2013)
• These could be the ones to steer clear of however with six of the past 10 The Metropolitan winners having been unplaced in their final lead-up
• One credible The Metropolitan lead-up though has been the Colin Stephen producing three winners in the past 10 years including Railings who did the double in 2005
• This year aside from the winner #4 Julienas horses coming via the Colin Stephen are #10 I’m Imposing (2^nd) and #15 Planet Purple (3^rd)
• Big weights are a notable disadvantage in The Metropolitan with eight of the past 10 winners carrying 54kg or less; horses weighted above that this year looking to buck the trend are #1 Mourayan (58kg), #2 Moriarty (56.5kg), #3 Seveille (55.5kg), #4 Julienas (55kg) and #5 Sneak A Peek (54.5kg)
• Favourites have a poor recent record in The Metropolitan winning only two of the past 10 making the task a historically hard one for #7 Prince Cheri ($3.80) on Saturday
• The punters’ picks have also only finished in the money at a 50% strike rate over the past decade with 5 from 10 running a place
• Horses with a good record at Randwick include #1 Mourayan (5-2-2-0), #2 Moriarty (4-2-0-0) and #11 Lucripetous (3-1-1-0)
• Those with the best 2400m form include #4 Julienas (3-2-1-0), #7 Prince Cheri (2-1-1-0) and #15 Planet Purple (6-1-1-1),
• #15 Planet Purple ($201) is also the only previous winner at the Track & Distance
• Five of the past 10 The Metropolitan winners have been at juicy prices including Newport ($40 in 2008) so the double figure roughies shouldn’t be discounted here
• While Waterhouse is the top trainer in this, Jim Cassidy is the most successful jockey since 1983 with four wins from 16 rides; he shoots for another this year with #11 Lucripetous ($19)

You’re now ready to place a well-informed wager on The Metropolitan 2013 so jump over to Ladbrokes.com.au for all the weekend’s best markets including Double The Odds on the Turnbull Stakes in Melbourne on Saturday!