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The European staying credentials of The Euphrates were on full display in Saturday’s 2026 Kingston Town Stakes results at Randwick, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import producing a dominant performance to claim the key Group 1 lead-up and emerge as a genuine contender for the major spring staying features.
Having hinted at his potential with an encouraging first-up run over a mile when fourth in the Chelmsford Stakes on debut down under, the six-year-old son of Frankel relished the rise to 2000 metres in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Kingston Town Stakes, settling comfortably in the lead under Tim Clark and putting in a superior staying effort to go all-the-way and defeat Juja Kibo ($7) by three-quarters of a length, with race favourite Soul Of Spain ($3.90) another three-quarters of a length away in third.
The victory was the fourth of The Euphrates’ career and took his earnings beyond the $1 million mark, further enhancing an already impressive international résumé that includes stakes form in Ireland and victory in the prestigious Irish Cesarewitch.
Imported Stayer Comes of Age
The Randwick feature represented another step forward for the lightly raced import, who is still building fitness and race experience after an extended period away from competition.
Clark, who enjoyed a back-to-back double after his upset on General Salute the race prior in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie, was confident throughout aboard the Waterhouse-Bott galloper, with The Euphrates travelling strongly before lengthening impressively over the concluding stages.
The winning jockey believes Saturday’s performance was a glimpse of what is still to come as the gelding rises in distance.
“He ran pretty well first-up and credit to Gai and Adrian for putting the groundwork into him so he could bounce off that and not put in a flat run,” Clark told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He is starting to get out to a distance range that suits him now. He galloped all the way through the line and was last to pull up.”
Clark was also impressed by how comfortably the import travelled throughout the race.
“He felt like he was really comfortable. He gave me the impression he was doing it really easily and well within himself,” he added.
“We’ve seen so many imports come to Australia, especially with Gai and Adrian, and they put that speed into their legs. He has that great stamina and I’m looking forward to seeing him over further.”
The Metropolitan Confirmed as Next Target
Co-trainer Bott confirmed after the race that the Kingston Town Stakes victory was another important step towards the stable’s long-held staying ambitions for the horse.
“He put the writing on the wall with a great return over the mile,” Bott said.
“He has backed that up and really gone ahead today over more suitable conditions.”
Importantly, Bott revealed the stable’s spring roadmap is now firmly set, with a start in the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 3 locked in before the horse heads south for Melbourne’s premier staying races.
“The Metropolitan has always been the plan with him, but we have been thinking further ahead with him,” he confirmed.
“The big picture is the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup with him.
“He has two-mile form in Europe and certainly stays the trip at a higher level, and he showed that today.
“He will go to The Metropolitan next run and the further we get with him the better.”
The latest gallopers to complete the Kingston Town Stakes – The Metropolitan double in the same season were Herculian Prince (2010) followed by Just Fine (2023).
Bott was particularly encouraged by the authority of the victory and believes there remains further improvement to come.
“Today was a dominant performance. It was great to see him stick it out as well as he did.”
“He hasn’t been racing for two years so I would like to think there is further improvement to come.”
“He has that brilliant tactical speed, that cruising speed, and that ability to sustain it which is going to open up some great staying feature races for him.”
Ladbrokes Cuts Spring Cups Odds
Bookmakers were quick to react to the eye-catching Randwick performance.
Following the Kingston Town Stakes triumph, Ladbrokes slashed The Euphrates’ 2026 The Metropolitan odds from $26 into $4.60, elevating him to outright second favouritism for the Group 1 feature next month behind Friday’s Newcastle Gold Cup winner Aethelwulf ($3.20).
The Metropolitan 2026 Odds
| 1. Aethelwulf | ||
| 2. The Euphrates | ||
| 3. Juja Kibo | ||
| 4. Soul Of Spain | ||
| 5. Piggyback |
The market support extended beyond Sydney, with the former European also dramatically firming in 2026 Caulfield Cup betting on the $6.55 million classic on October 17 from $51 into $13, making him the early third favourite for the Group 1 handicap at Caulfield.
Caulfield Cup 2026 Odds
The import remains a $21 chance in Melbourne Cup futures markets, with connections hopeful his staying prowess and European background can see him continue to rise through the ranks as the distances increase towards the iconic Group 1 $10.2 million two-mile classic at Flemington on Tuesday November 3.
With a Group 2 victory now on his Australian record, a confirmed The Metropolitan assignment ahead, and ambitious plans to tackle both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, The Euphrates has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting staying prospects of the 2026 spring carnival.
