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A line-up of potential The Metropolitan hopes will face off in Friday’s 2025 Newcastle Gold Cup field where the progressive Chris Waller trained Soul Of Spain has been absolutely smashed by the punters firming into the outright odds-on favourite.

The Group 3 $300,000 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) traditionally serves as an excellent lead-up into Randwick’s Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) run on Epsom Handicap Day, with the winner earing a ballot exemption into that race.

Glencadam Gold (2012) was the last horse to complete the Newcastle Gold Cup – The Metropolitan double and there look to be some livewire hopes out to be the next this spring.

Master horseman Waller became a six-time Newcastle Gold Cup winning trainer in 2024 with Etna Rosso and he saddles-up another strong contingent on Friday led by the top elect Soul Of Spain.

He opened at $3.40 on the second line of betting but the money has come thick and fast seeing him firm right into $1.95 in the latest Newcastle Gold Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Soul Of Spain is chasing a hat-trick after two good wins in Queensland leading up to his Group 3 acid test.

A lightly raced Irish import, the horse was last seen easily accounting for his rivals at Doomben as the odds-on fancy over 2020m when carrying just 52.5kg to a three-length romp home.

He goes up to 54kg but remains right in it weight wise with Zac Lloyd booked for the ride from barrier 1.

With winning form up to 3319m overseas he’ll relish the step-up in distance this weekend, and he is also being kept safe in all-in The Metropolitan odds at $10.

Waller also has the second punters’ pick with one-time favourite Travolta who has eased out from $2.35 to $3.60.

A five-year-old son of Lope De Vega, Travolta is looking to post his first win over further than 2000m and he comes off a lead-up second to Changingoftheguard in the Listed Tatt’s Cup (2400m) at Randwick on September 6.

Kerrin McEvoy rides from barrier seven on 54.5kg.

If successful on Friday, he is sure to firm from his current early quote of $15 in futures The Metropolitan betting.

The next best in Newcastle Gold Cup betting markets is the Ciaron Maher trained Royal Supremacy ($4.40) who is also chasing a hat-trick of wins this prep.

The imported Make Believe gelding put in two lackluster performances when first and second up down under over a mile in the winter before showing sharp improvement relishing a step up to 1800m third-up in Australia to win at Randwick on July 12.

He went back-to-back when winning again in the Wyong Cup Prelude last month and has been kept fit with a subsequent trial finishing third to Gringotts.

While this is a rise in grade, Royal Supremacy looks to be getting better with each run and is drawn well in gate three with Jason Collett coming aboard.

The 2025 Newcastle Gold Cup is set to run as Newcastle Race 6 at 4:05pm (AEST) on Friday’s eight-race card.

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