Chris Waller was tipped as the trainer to beat in The Metropolitan 2017, but in a shock result none of his four runners featured in the trifecta led by the Lloyd Williams-raced winning lightweight Foundry.

Foundry could target the Spring Cups in Melbourne after winning Sydney’s 2017 The Metropolitan at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.

Waller saddled-up the best in betting for this year’s Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) on Epsom Handicap Day, but was left without a top three performer in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups lead-up.

Instead it was the Robert Hickmott-trained import Foundry on just 50.5kg who stole the show, jockey Michael Dee giving the lightly-raced eight-year-old the perfect ride to break through at elite level in his first Group 1 winning ride.

Foundry was too good coming down from 56.5kg last time out at Moonee Valley and relished getting out over the mile and a half in The Metropolitan, where he defeated the Darren Weir-trained Big Duke and the Kiwi-trained Chocante.

Race favourite Life Less Ordinary was taken right to the back of the field soon after the jump along with proven stayer Big Duke who was out to atone for the 10^th at Caulfield in last Saturday’s Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).

Leading the field around up front was the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Newcastle Gold Cup winner Broadside having his third run in as many weeks on the back of a third in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).

The first four past the post in the Kingston Town Stakes were all Waller-trained and backing-up in The Metropolitan Handicap, including nine-year-old Who Shot Thebarman (4^th) who raced handy in fourth in the Group 1.

Following Broadside around also up on the pace were Stephen Marsh’s Brisbane Cup winner Chocante, seventh in the Kingston Town Stakes last time out, and the eventual The Metropolitan winner Foundry who until today hadn’t won a race since February of 2014.

Big Duke was travelling pretty keenly fourth last, while Life Less Ordinary was nine lengths off the leader at 1400m with plenty of work to do.

At the 800m Broadside upped the tempo, while jockey Corey Brown sat quietly second on Chocante and Foundry really started to get going moving up as the turn for home approached getting out and rolling.

The favourite was still last on the bend and never featured as a winning hope, while Big Duke and jockey Brenton Avdulla moved up on the fence searching for a run.

Foundry eventually charged home after Dee slotted one-in-one out, putting the horse to sleep near the back before getting into a perfect position mid-race and making the late move.

On the line Foundry ($9.50) had a half-length to spare over Big Duke ($4.80), while Chocante ($26) added value to the trifecta at the big price.

Who Shot Thebarman ($16) was fourth beaten two and a half-lengths, the best of the Waller chances in the race, while the beaten favourite Life Less Ordinary ($4.20) finished second last.

Foundry holds nominations for both the Group 1 $3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 $6 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) and could sneak in on a lightweight again.

Futures Caulfield Cup 2017 betting for the October 21 event list Foundry as a $34 roughie, while he is at $51 in pre-field Melbourne Cup odds for the two mile classic on November 7 that Williams enjoyed his fifth win in last year with Almandin.

To back Foundry next race at the right price, head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.

2017 The Metropolitan Results & Finishing Order

Randwick Race 8 – 30/09/2017