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Chris Waller‘s progressive five-year-old Birdman has firmed into outright favouritism to take out the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) next month after his narrow victory in a thrilling Kingston Town Stakes 2025 result at Randwick on Saturday.

The Free Eagle gelding, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, presented fit third-up in the Group 3 $250,000 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) and came from fifth on the home turn, switching back to the inside and flying home to rundown the leaders.

In an exciting late duel between the eventual winner and surprise runner-up Adelaide River, the two imports drew away from the rest of the pack, knuckling down and fighting it out over the closing stages.

They went stride-for-stride inside the final 50m hitting the line in what looked a dead-heat before the photo showed Birdman ($5.50) had just got his nose down on the line to snare victory with stablemate Etna Rosso in third.

The win was his first in Australia and came on the back of a credible fifth to stablemate Lindermann in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).

“It is (overdue) from a punter’s perspective. From our perspective, he’s just steadily been working towards something. But he needed to, he needed to start doing it,” Waller said.

“His fresh up runs were good, he got to a more suitable distance today and had a lovely draw, a nice run in transit, and yeah, a good confident ride.”

Relishing the step-up to 2000m, Birdman is now expected to get out over even more distance at the track on October 4 in The Metropolitan chasing a double last completed by Just Fine (2023).

“He definitely floated when he got (to the front), so he just thought his job was done. So, you know, I think he can go further in trip and ideally, I think a little bit more juice in the ground probably suits him better as well. So, you know, if he can stay a bit further then the Metropolitan is going to be right up his alley,” winning hoop McEvoy said.

His price in all-in The Metropolitan betting at Ladbrokes has moved in from $8 to $4 and he sits top of the markets ahead of the stable’s exciting Newcastle Gold Cup winner on Friday – Soul Of Spain ($7).

The brave Kris Lees trained Kingston Town runner-up Adelaide River also had his The Metropolitan odds slashed from $51 to $8.

Birdman is currently allocated 51.5kg in The Metropolitan weights.

Waller chases his seventh win in the event since 2010 and back-to-back victories after his success with Land Legend last spring.

The master trainer also hinted at a potential Spring Cups’ bid for Birdman who is nominated for both the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 and the $10 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.

“I’ll have a talk to connections. They are great tacticians and planners of races, so I use their knowledge a lot. But yeah, logically, he’s heading the right way towards the Cups that’s what he was brought for a year out, and it’s coming together nicely for him,” Waller said.

The galloper pays $13 (in from $21) in Caulfield Cup betting and $26 for the ‘race that stops a nation’ through Ladbrokes.

CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE.

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.