Lloyd Williams-owned runners dominate The Metropolitan 2013 weights released by Racing NSW this week with reigning Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and their stablemate Sea Moon both allocated 59kg.

Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon is equal top weight for the 2013 The Metropolitan in Sydney. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Running at Royal Randwick on Saturday October 5 as one of two Group 1 highlights of Epsom Handicap Day, the $400,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) has 102 stayers still in contention.

Of those heading towards the prestigious Sydney Spring Racing Carnival showdown, the two top-weights are both Robert Hickmott-trained gallopers.

Montjeu stallion Green Moon is a dual Group 1 winner down under having taken out the Turnbull Stakes – Melbourne Cup double last spring.

Also competitive when fourth in the Futurity Stakes and Australian Cup during the autumn the now six-year-old resumed on August 31 at Caulfield finishing a brave fifth to Cox Plate favourite Atlantic Jewel in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).

They pay $19 for The Metropolitan.

At $21 is then Sea Moon, the imported Beat Hollow stallion 12^th in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) in their Australian debut at the start of the month.

The next heaviest weighted hopeful on 58kg is then Chris Waller’s flying Dansili six-year-old Foreteller.

Breaking their Group 1 maiden in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill back in March, Foreteller was competitive all that season including their second to the fellow Waller-trained Beaten Up in the Doomben Cup in Brisbane.

They have had two runs this time in and became a dual Group 1 champion last start on September 7 narrowly holding off current Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

In fact, the top nine weighted gallopers for the 2013 The Metropolitan either come from Hickmott or Waller.

Hickmott and Williams also have 39-start veteran Mourayan (57.5kg) who won the Sydney Cup in April, and English import Masked Marvel (56.5kg).

Foreteller is then followed by stablemates Beaten Up (57kg), Queensland Derby champ Hawkspur (57kg) who won the Chelmsford Stakes last start in Sydney, last year’s Melbourne Cup fourth placegetter Kelinni (56kg) and Brisbane Cup winner Moriarty (56kg).

Moriarty is also the $9 early favourite in The Metropolitan betting.

They are followed by Doomben Cup winner Beaten Up ($11).

Waller’s 54.5kg chance Bayrir, Foreteller and Hawkspur are all then rated $12, before his Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent ($13).

The first non-Waller-trained chance in The Metropolitan odds is then the Gai Waterhouse-trained High Chaparral four-year-old Ecuador ($14).

Currently equal 67^th on the order of entry with only 52kg the gelding has won their last two Sydney runs this September including a three length effort over Diamond Jim over 1800m last Saturday.

Waterhouse also has 12 other hopes with the only two guaranteed a start being defending The Metropolitan winner Glencadam Gold (55.kg) and evergreen Cape Cross seven-year-old Julienas (54.5kg).

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for all the latest The Metropolitan field updates.

Juicy futures markets on The Metropolitan and Epsom Handicap are open now at Ladbrokes.com.au so check them out today to get in on the generous pre-field prices!

2013 The Metropolitan Weights & Ballot

Royal Randwick – 05/10/2013