The $20 million The Everest might have changed the shape of the Sydney spring carnival, but for premier trainer Chris Waller, the traditional Epsom Handicap day meeting remains pivotal.
Waller is preparing to saddle up 16 runners across the three majors at Randwick on Saturday with up to four fillies in the Flight Stakes (1600m), headed by the undefeated Autumn Glow, seven runners in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and five starters and three emergencies in the Metropolitan (2400m).
While a couple are dual acceptors in Melbourne, Waller will still have a dominant presence in his quest for a sixth Epsom, sixth Metropolitan and third Flight Stakes.
“It’s still our grand final weekend in racing,” Waller said.
“We’re lucky enough to go beyond Epsom weekend, Metropolitan weekend now with The Everest carnival, but it’s still a big deal for our horses in Sydney and their owners.”
Four of Waller’s Metropolitan contingent are at single-figure odds – St Leger winner Land Legend ($6.50), First Light ($9) who backs up from a strong win at Rosehill last weekend, Newcastle Cup winner Etna Rosso ($9.50) and second reserve Unusual Legacy ($8).
Land Legend gets to his preferred distance range after two shorter-course runs, the latest when sixth to Eliyass in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) and Waller says he is “progressing the right way”.
The lightly raced Etna Rosso has won two of his past three starts, culminating in his Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) success, while Manzoice ($14) also commands respect despite a wide draw in barrier 16.
The 2022 Victoria Derby winner struggled for form last season but his two runs this preparation have been meritorious.
He resumed with a handy second to Golden Path in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) in August and was again close-up when third to Lion’s Roar in the Wyong Cup (2100m) on September 6.
“This preparation we have spaced his runs, four weeks, four weeks and again four weeks into the Metrop, and he has been placed in every start,” Waller said.
“We know he will love the 2400-metre distance.”
Waller won his first Metropolitan in 2011 with The Verminator and has since captured it with Opinion (2014), Patrick Erin (2018), Come Play With Me (2019) and No Compromise two years ago.
The Kingston Town Stakes has proven to be the key lead-up race in recent years, producing five of the past six winners.
Ten horses lining up on Saturday have come through that event, the most prominent finishers being fourth and fifth placegetters Serpentine and Zardozi.