Trainer Chris Waller is keeping his options open with No Compromise who could be Caulfield Cup-bound after a fighting finish to win the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney.

No Compromise held on in a photo finish to win The Metropolitan 2022. Photo: Steve Hart.

Waller celebrated his fifth The Metropolitan victory this spring with Tommy Berry narrowly getting up on Pins six-year-old No Compromise ($6) by the bob of the head over the beaten favourite Le Don De Vie ($5) in a photo finish.

Following on from the exciting dead heat in the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) the start before between Ellsberg and Top Ranked, it was another close call in the day’s mile and a half feature.

Top honours this time went to the horse on the inside, No Compromise, who picked up late and ducked back towards the rails before charging home and running down the brave Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Caloundra Cup winner over the winter Le Don De Vie.

“Similar to the last race in the Epsom it was a great finish,” Waller said.

“I didn’t know which way that one was going to go but thankfully this one didn’t take as long to put up.

“Great family from New Zealand behind him. It’s a special win. He’s been building up to that. He’s been a bit unlucky. He doesn’t like the real wet tracks.

“Today, even though it’s heavy, they are getting through it better than they were in the autumn and that was a help to him and I think that 2400m is the cap on his distance range as he showed today.”

In an equally close third was Anthony & Sam Freedman’s So You Think mare Realm Of Flowers ($21) in an improved performance from her.

The Metropolitan 2022 result saw Waller celebrate his 139^th Group 1 victory following on from his 138^th earlier in the day with Zougotcha in the Flight Stakes.

“He was travelling really well early, got into a nice spot,” winning hoop Berry said after the race.

“The Freedman horse (Realm Of Flowers) outside me was just annoying me a little bit so I’m glad when he pressed on and got outside Stockman, it just got my bloke into a good rhythm.

“I was bolting coming to the corner and when James (McDonald – rider of second horse Le Don De Vie) shifted out in front of me I thought it was all over so he did an unbelievable job to pick himself up and get there. But Chris Waller, he’s just a freak isn’t he? Group 1 day and he’s here.”

There is a chance No Compromise could head south in a fortnight for a shot at the Caulfield Cup on October 15, but Waller has not locked in anything just yet.

“He might need to grow a few lengths over the next few weeks to do that,” the master trainer said.

“We won’t disappoint anyone today. We will enjoy the win, albeit a narrow one.”

No Compromise currently sits at an all-in quote of $34 in the Caulfield Cup odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Markets are now led by the Turnbull Stakes winner Smokin’ Romans ($8) from the Maher/Eustace stable and are available in full here.

2022 The Metropolitan Results & Finishing Order  

Table Credit: Racing Australia.