The Metropolitan 2026 is one of Sydney’s premier staying tests, a time-honoured Group 2 2400m handicap run at Royal Randwick that regularly shapes the spring’s major staying features. Attracting seasoned stayers, emerging talents and Caulfield Cup-bound contenders, the race is a key form reference for punters tracking stamina, weights, and genuine staying progression. With the tempo, handicaps and Randwick’s testing rise all set to influence the outcome, our Metropolitan Handicap guide delivers the latest The Metropolitan odds, form insights and expert analysis to help you find value and stay ahead of the action in one of Australia’s most important staying contests.

2026 The Metropolitan Results

The official The Metropolitan Handicap 2026 results and finishing order will be updated in full below once the race takes place on Saturday October 3, 2026.

• 1st: No. 5 Juja Kibo ($5.50)
• 2nd: No. 7 Aethelwulf
• 3rd: No. 1 The Euphrates

Winning Margin: 1.71 lengths

Winning Time: 2:32.04

The 2026 The Metropolitan results showcased the staying prowess of Juja Kibo ($5.50), who delivered a dominant performance to claim the Group 2 feature over 2400m at Randwick and emerge as a genuine Spring Cups contender. Trained by Ciaron Maher and expertly ridden by Sam Clipperton, the son of Belardo settled perfectly before surging clear to defeat race favourite Aethelwulf by 1¾ lengths, with The Euphrates finishing third. Having placed in the race 12 months earlier, Juja Kibo returned a stronger and more mature stayer, relishing the rain-affected conditions to record his biggest Australian victory. The impressive win sparked significant moves in both Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup markets, with the progressive import enhancing his credentials as one of the leading long-distance prospects of the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival. Juja Kibo firmed from $51 into $15 in futures Caulfield Cup 2025 betting at Ladbrokes and $51 into $26 in the latest all-in Melbourne Cup odds online.

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The Metropolitan Tips

Stay tuned for our insider The Metropolitan 2026 betting tips for the spring stayers to back and sack at Royal Randwick this Epsom Day.

Read our full 2026 The Metropolitan preview, predictions and best bets now!

• Favourite: No. 7 Aethelwulf

• Each Way Danger: No. 5 Juja Kibo

• Best Roughie: No. 8 Thebudgiesmugla

The Metropolitan News

Juja Kibo Claims The Metropolitan, 2026 Spring Cups Bid Gains Momentum

• The Metropolitan 2026 Field Preview, Predictions & Betting Odds
• Colin Stephen Winner So You Are Firms in Melbourne Cup 2026 Betting
• The Euphrates Powers into Spring Cups Calculations With 2026 Kingston Town Stakes Victory
• 2026 Melbourne Cup Dream Alive for Newcastle Gold Cup Winner Aethelwulf
• 2025 The Metropolitan Winner Royal Supremacy Melbourne Cup Bound

The Metropolitan Handicap is one of the most prestigious and anticipated races run by the Australian Turf Club (ATC) as part of their Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

Held on a major race day at the carnival on either the last Saturday in September or the first Saturday in October – the day before the NRL Grand Final – at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, The Metropolitan was one of three Group 1 events at the meeting along with the Epsom Handicap (1600m) for milers and the Flight Stakes (1600m) for the three-year-old fillies before being downgraded to a Group 2 race in 2026.

The Metropolitan is a 2400m staying event run under open handicap conditions by entries aged three-years-old and over. Held at the end of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, punters who have watched the earlier races closely should have a fairly strong indication of the dominant runners of the season.

Entries in The Metropolitan may come via a range of races including the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality Handicap (2400m) the week before, or the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in September.

Just Fine (2023) was the last horse to complete the Kingston Town Stakes – The Metropolitan double.

Juja Kibo (2nd in 2026) was the last The Metropolitan winner to come via a lead-up run in the Kingston Town Stakes.

In recent years the Colin Stephen, run at the same course, distance and conditions, has been the most important guide to The Metropolitan and offers the winner a ballot exemption into the staying feature. Horses to take out this Colin Stephen – Metropolitan double include Railings (2005), Dress Circle (2001), Coco Cobanna (2000), Vita Man (1999), In Joyment (1998), Heart Ruler (1997), and Hula Flight (1996).

The Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) also offers the winner a The Metropolitan ballot exemption.

In 2023 Spirit Ridge ran second in the Newcastle Gold Cup and was huge nearly holding off the odds-on favourite Just Fine when runner-up in The Metropolitan next start at 40/1.

Royal Supremacy (2nd in 2025) was the last Newcastle Gold Cup graduate to win The Metropolitan when turning the tables on Soul Of Spain who won the Newcastle race before a second in the then Group 1 at Randwick.

The best out of The Metropolitan race may have their sights set on Melbourne’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) later in the month. Four horses have completed The Metropolitan – Caulfield Cup interstate double in the same season, most recently Tawqeet (2006).

The Metropolitan is also one of four lead-up races that offers a $500,000 bonus to any horse that can win it plus Rosehill’s Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) on Golden Eagle Day.

The Metropolitan winner also earns a ballot exemption into the following year’s Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick during April’s ‘The Championships.

The 2021 The Metropolitan form was franked with the winner Montefilia running fourth next-up in that year’s Caulfield Cup results before returning the next autumn to win the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) in 2022.

The 2024 The Metropolitan winner Land Legend franked the form with a next-up third in that year’s Caulfield Cup trifecta, while Zardozi ran second in the race before fourth place runs in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup races that spring.

2026 The Metropolitan Betting

Updated The Metropolitan Handicap 2026 betting markets will be provided for punters at Races.com.au across the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival complete with links to the best The Metropolitan odds online at Ladbrokes.

Just Fine ($1.75 in 2023) was the last The Metropolitan favourite to win.

The Metropolitan Field

2026 The Metropolitan Form

The Metropolitan form guide is the key resource punters use to break down every runner heading into Randwick’s prestigious 2400m handicap. It compiles each horse’s recent staying form, weight, barrier, jockey, track record, and fitness profile to help punters identify which runners are genuinely suited to the demanding Randwick 2400m. Because The Metropolitan often launches Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup campaigns, the form guide is one of the most important tools for assessing staying prospects during the Sydney spring.

What Punters Should Look for in The Metropolitan Form Guide:

• Handicap weights — Weight is crucial in a true staying handicap. Horses dropping in weight or well-treated at the weights often present strong value.
• Staying form — Look for runners proven at 2000m-2400m or those building towards peak fitness with strong late sectionals.
• Randwick 2400m suitability — The testing rise at Randwick exposes weak stayers. Horses with previous Randwick staying form are a major tick.
• Lead-up races — The Kingston Town Stakes, Colin Stephen Quality and even the Hill Stakes often provide the strongest form lines.
• Barrier draw — Inside gates help on-pacers and grinders hold a position, while swoopers need a draw that allows clean momentum.
• Tempo and map — The Metropolitan is typically run at a genuine staying tempo. Identifying leaders, on-pacers and midfield runners with economical maps is essential.
• Stable intent — Many runners are targeting bigger races. Those set specifically for The Metropolitan often show sharper improvement.
• Market moves — Early firmers, especially those rising in distance or dropping in weight, are worth close attention.

FULL 2026 THE METROPOLITAN FORM GUIDE

2026 The Metropolitan Handicap Nominations & Weights

The 2026 The Metropolitan nominations are released by Racing NSW in early September attracting close to 100 entries each Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

The Metropolitan 2026 nominations close on Monday the 7th of September 2026.

The Metropolitan Handicap 2026 weights are set for release on Monday the 14th of September 2026.

2026 The Metropolitan nominations are now out featuring 22 spring stayers led in all-in betting by the Matthew Smith-trained Newcastle Gold Cup winner Aethelwulf chasing a fifth win on the trot and progressive Waterhouse/Bott import The Euphrates coming off a Group 2 Kingston Town Stakes victory.

2026 The Metropolitan Final Field

The Metropolitan will be the last event for the contending runners at Sydney, although many of the well performing horses will continue their spring campaigns by taking part in some of the premier races of the year at the illustrious Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. The Metropolitan Handicap is an excellent lead-up race to the esteemed Group 1 Caulfield Cup, as it is run under much the same conditions.

Each season The Metropolitan field and barriers are released the week of the race attracting a capacity line-up of 18 starters plus four emergencies.

The official 2026 The Metropolitan Final Field & Barrier Draw will be announced the Tuesday of race week and published in full below once released.

The Metropolitan 2026 field features a smart line-up of 13 potential Spring Cups-bound stayers with Aethelwulf the hot favourite coming off four straight wins for Matthew Smith and jockey Zac Lloyd.

The Metropolitan Barrier & Speedmap

1

The Euphrates Leader

1

Valiant King invalid settling lengths

2

Deakin Off Pace

3

Aethelwulf Off Pace

4

Juja Kibo Pace

5

Soul Of Spain Midfield

6

Athabascan Midfield

7

Green Spaces Midfield

7

Piggyback invalid settling lengths

8

Steel Blaze Off Midfield

9

Thebudgiesmugla Off Pace

12

Mr Monaco invalid settling lengths

13

Pinhole invalid settling lengths

The Metropolitan History

The Metropolitan has a rich history dating all the way back to the race’s inception in 1863, which was won by Regno. It began as a principal race run over 16 furlongs until 1892 when the race distance was decreased to 12 furlongs. In 1920 the length of the event went up to 13 furlongs and was then converted to 2600m in 1972. Not long after in 1979 the Metropolitan Handicap became a Group 1 event. In 2001 the race distance was decreased by 200m bringing it to today’s length of 2400m. In its long history, there has only been one year the Metropolitan Handicap was not held and that was in 2007 due to the Equine Flu virus.

In 2021 jockey Hugh Bowman made history winning his 100th career Group 1 aboard Montefilia in The Metropolitan.

In 2023 the odds-on favourite Just Fine set a new The Metropolitan track record saluting for the punters in 2 minutes 26.11 seconds.

The race was downgraded to Group 2 status ahead of the 2026 edition. 

The Metropolitan Previous Race Winners

The Metropolitan FAQs

What is The Metropolitan?
The Metropolitan is a historic Group 2 2400m handicap run at Royal Randwick and is one of Australia’s premier staying features of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

When is The Metropolitan held?
The race is run on the first Saturday of October, alongside the Epsom Handicap and other major spring events. The 2026 edition is set to run on Saturday October 3.

Where is The Metropolitan run?
The Metropolitan takes place at Royal Randwick, a track known for its testing rise and genuine staying challenges.

What distance is The Metropolitan?
The race is run over 2400 metres, making it a true stamina test for seasoned stayers and emerging spring contenders.

How many horses run in The Metropolitan?
The Metropolitan typically assembles a capacity field of 18 runners, reflecting its status as one of the most competitive Group race handicaps.

What type of horses contest The Metropolitan?
Proven stayers, rising 2000m-2400m talents, and Caulfield Cup hopefuls regularly target the race.

What are the key lead-up races?
The Kingston Town Stakes, Colin Stephen Quality, and Hill Stakes often provide the strongest form lines into The Metropolitan.

Is The Metropolitan a reliable spring form race?
Yes — Metropolitan runners frequently progress to the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, and other major staying features.

Where can I find The Metropolitan odds?
Updated odds are available as soon as markets open at Ladbrokes with price shifts driven by weights, staying form and stable plans.