Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller has a strong grip on winning another Metropolitan after saddling up the first four placegetters in the Group 3 $150,000 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick today.

English import Libran ($26) broke a long winning drought when Glyn Schofield pushed him through a narrow gap in the straight to score a one and half lengths wins over his stablemate Antonio Giuseppe ($5).

The heavily backed Life Less Ordinary ($2.90 favourite) fell into third spot a nose ahead of the veteran stayer Who Shot Thebarman ($51).

All four stayers will now push towards the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on September 30.

Libran hasn’t been in the winner’s stall since taking out the Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick during the 2016 Sydney Autumn Carnival and Waller blamed the wet tracks during this year’s Autumn Carnival for the seven year old’s loss of form.

“Libran ran a very good race first up and his work since has been good,” Waller said.

“He just went missing in that wet Autumn. The wet tracks cost him and he is on good tracks now.”

“He was ridden patiently and came home with a barnstorming run.”

Waller said that runner up Antonio Giuseppe and third placegetter Life Less Ordinary were a little bit disappointing but he was very happy with the effort of Who Shot Thebarman.

“He (Antonio Giuseppe) was a bit soft the last 100m as was Life Less Ordinary but Who Shot Thebarman was outstanding. The old boy still has a lot left in the tank yet.”