Juja Kibo delivered a career-defining performance to capture the 2026 The Metropolitan results at Randwick on Saturday, with the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer now shaping as a genuine spring cups contender after a dominant victory that has seen his Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup odds slashed.

Having finished third in the race 12 months ago, the imported son of Belardo returned to Randwick a much stronger proposition and vindicated a long-planned campaign by powering to victory in the Group 2 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m).

Under a perfectly judged ride from Sam Clipperton, Juja Kibo ($5.50) settled in a dream position from a good draw in the staying feature before sprinting clear late to defeat favourite Aethelwulf by 1¾ lengths, with class import The Euphrates another two lengths away in third.

? @cmaherracing's Juja Kibo rises to the occasion to take out The Metropolitan for the stayers! @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/KLJjAvWpSI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 3, 2026

The win was richly deserved for a galloper who had consistently measured up in strong staying company throughout the past 12 months, including placings in the Kingston Town Stakes, Chairman’s Quality and last year’s Metropolitan.

Representing Ciaron Maher’s stable, Johann Gerard-Dubord said the race had been the target all preparation and the five-year-old peaked at exactly the right time.

“It’s good to get the job done,” he said.

“It has been the plan all along to get him here third-up and try to have him peaking. After his last run two weeks ago we thought we were right on track.”

The stable was confident there was improvement to come from the gelding after his Kingston Town Stakes run, particularly with softer conditions underfoot.

“He still had plenty of improvement to come,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“He was very wintery that day and since then, he has really blossomed. He looks ten times better and that extra run under his belt, a bit of give in the track, was just ideal for him today.

“We had a good barrier and perfect ride from Sam.”

Gerard-Dubord also credited Clipperton’s familiarity with the horse as a key factor behind the victory.

“He’s done a bit of work with him,” he said.

“He rode him his first two starts this prep and he galloped him on Tuesday, and he was very confident after Tuesday, so it’s good to get the job done.”

The rain-affected track proved a major advantage for the winner, who relished getting his preferred conditions after finding the firmer ground against him earlier in the campaign.

“The give in the track definitely helps,” he added.

“In the Kingston Town he loomed and probably didn’t go on with it. But the track was a bit firm and he was probably still a run away.

“Great to get the job done. Obviously, I’d love it to be a Group 1, but we’ll still take it.”

With a major staying prize now on the board, attention has quickly turned towards Melbourne’s spring carnival features.

“On the back of that, you have to look at Victoria,” the stable rep said.

“The St Leger is up here but Victoria is very enticing.”

Clipperton was delighted to reward the stable’s faith and believes the gelding had plenty left in reserve at the finish.

“Ahead of schedule except they have taken the Group 1 status away from us. That is alright. Pretty sure the prize money is the same,” the hoop said.

“All that aside I am delighted to get this horse home. A great bunch of owners behind him. A lot of people that work very hard behind the scenes at Warwick Farm, Jo and his team.”

The jockey said he had felt the horse building towards a peak performance all campaign.

“Thanks to all them for having me on,” Clipperton said.

“I have been riding him throughout the prep. He has been building for a big performance.

“Lovely to be able to stay on these horses on these big days and get the job done.”

Once Juja Kibo jumped cleanly and secured the run of the race, Clipperton knew his mount would take plenty of beating.

“I think he could have gone around again,” he said.

“He just loved getting his toe in the ground again. He sprung the lid so fast and was able to across Zac Lloyd (on Aethelwulf) who I was intending to follow.”

“But when he sprung the lids and I was able to put him away, and have him where I wanted to on the fence, it was a matter of riding him on a piece of string, hoping that the race would continue to flow and he dashed up two furlongs for me. It was as simple as that.”

And if Juja Kibo does head south for the spring majors, Clipperton has already made his intentions clear.

“Certainly, I would be putting my hand up. Delighted to get him home today,” he said.

The impressive Randwick performance has sparked significant market moves with Ladbrokes, where Juja Kibo has firmed dramatically from $51 into $15 for the 2026 Caulfield Cup and from $51 into $26 for the 2026 Melbourne Cup.

Given the authority of Saturday’s Metropolitan victory and his obvious appreciation for rain-affected ground, the Maher-trained stayer has emerged as one of the most intriguing cups prospects of the spring as connections weigh up a Victorian campaign.

2026 The Metropolitan Results