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Juja Kibo won the 2026 Metropolitan at Randwick, a Group 2 this year. The result, the final field, how our tip went and the race history are below.
The Metropolitan tips, best bets, field & odds. Below is our complete The Metropolitan guide: race details, history and past winners, lead-in form, betting markets and FAQs. The 2026 result, the final field and how our tip went are below.
The Metropolitan 2026. Your complete guide to The Metropolitan at Royal Randwick (early October): recent winners, lead-in form, betting markets and FAQs, plus the latest field, odds and best bets.
The Metropolitan is the premier Sydney spring stayers’ handicap, a $750,000 Group 2 over 2400m at Royal Randwick, run on Epsom Day. Racing NSW lost the race’s Group 1 badge for the 2026/27 season after backing away from planned changes to its conditions, so it is now graded Group 2. First run in 1863, it is a traditional form line into the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup for Sydney-based stayers. This guide covers The Metropolitan’s dates, distance, prize money, betting markets and our full race-day tips. For the full carnival, see our Sydney Spring Racing Carnival guide.
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The Metropolitan Race Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Distance | 2400m |
| Class | Group 2 Handicap |
| Age / Conditions | Three-year-olds and upwards |
| Venue | Royal Randwick, Sydney |
| Prize Money | $750,000 |
| Run Date | Saturday 3 October 2026 (Epsom Day) |
The Metropolitan History & Winners
Recent winners include Juja Kibo (2026), Royal Supremacy (2025), Land Legend (2024), Just Fine (2023), No Compromise (2022) and Montefilia (2021). Glencadam Gold (2012) completed the Newcastle Gold Cup and Metropolitan double. The 2400m Randwick trip under handicap conditions provides a genuine staying test.
The Metropolitan Recent Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Juja Kibo |
| 2025 | Royal Supremacy |
| 2024 | Land Legend |
| 2023 | Just Fine |
| 2022 | No Compromise |
| 2021 | Montefilia |
Lead-In Races
The main lead-ins are the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m), Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) and Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) for horses stretching out in trip. European imports targeting the Melbourne Cup sometimes use The Metropolitan as their Australian debut.
2026 lead-up form. The Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m at Randwick on 19 September went to The Euphrates ($5.00, Tim Clark, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott), from Juja Kibo ($7.00) and the favourite Soul Of Spain ($3.90). It is the most relevant recent staying form at the track, and once again the favourite did not win it.
🏆 Result: Juja Kibo ($5.50, Ciaron Maher, Sam Clipperton) won the 2026 Metropolitan by 1.71 lengths from the favourite Aethelwulf, with The Euphrates third.
The Metropolitan 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Juja Kibo (IRE) | Sam Clipperton | Ciaron Maher | $5.50 |
| 2nd | Aethelwulf | Zac Lloyd | Matthew Smith | $2.80 fav |
| 3rd | The Euphrates (GB) | Tim Clark | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | $4.20 |
| 4th | Green Spaces | Rachel King | Bjorn Baker | $10 |
How our tip went. Aethelwulf ran second as favourite, so a win bet lost and an each-way bet paid the place. Juja Kibo had been second to The Euphrates in the Kingston Town Stakes and turned that form around over the extra 400m. Soul Of Spain and Deakin, who came here from the Turnbull, finished seventh and eighth.
The Metropolitan 2026: Final Field, Barriers and Best Bet
Thirteen accepted for Race 7 at 3:35pm on Saturday 3 October, a Group 2 handicap over 2400m. Valiant King, Piggyback and Mr Monaco have been scratched, leaving 10, and Soul Of Spain and Deakin run here after being scratched from the Turnbull. Randwick was upgraded to Good 4 on Friday.
| No. | Horse | Barrier | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Euphrates (GB) | 2 | 59kg | Tim Clark | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 2 | Soul Of Spain (IRE) | 6 | 58.5kg | James McDonald | Chris Waller |
| 3 | Deakin (FR) | 3 | 56.5kg | Kerrin McEvoy | Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
| 4 | Green Spaces | 9 | 56.5kg | Rachel King | Bjorn Baker |
| 5 | Juja Kibo (IRE) | 5 | 56.5kg | Sam Clipperton | Ciaron Maher |
| 6 | Valiant King (GB) (scratched) | 1 | 55.5kg | Alysha Collett | Chris Waller |
| 7 | Aethelwulf | 4 | 55kg | Zac Lloyd | Matthew Smith |
| 8 | Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) | 11 | 55kg | Dylan Gibbons | Bjorn Baker |
| 9 | Piggyback (scratched) | 7 | 54.5kg | Andrew Adkins | Ciaron Maher |
| 10 | Athabascan (FR) | 8 | 54kg | Jason Collett | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 11 | Mr Monaco (GB) (scratched) | 12 | 53.5kg | Regan Bayliss | Ciaron Maher |
| 12 | Pinhole (GB) | 13 | 53kg | Tyler Schiller | Chris Waller |
| 13 | Steel Blaze | 10 | 53kg | Reece Jones | Brett Lazzarini |
Our best bet: Aethelwulf (barrier 4). He has won his last four, most recently the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup over 2300m at Broadmeadow, where he won easily, and he is trying to repeat the double Glencadam Gold completed in 2012. He carries 55kg, 4kg less than the topweight, with Zac Lloyd riding.
The danger is The Euphrates (barrier 2), who won the Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m at Randwick last start from Juja Kibo and the favourite Soul Of Spain. He has the best recent track form, but carries the 59kg topweight over the extra 400m.
How to Watch the Metropolitan in Australia
The Metropolitan is run on Epsom Day at Royal Randwick in early October, on a card headlined by the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and Group 1 Flight Stakes. Every race is broadcast live on Sky Racing (Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2 and Sky Thoroughbred Central) and streamed through Racing.com, while most licensed Australian bookmakers also stream the vision live for account holders. Sydney’s big spring Saturdays are frequently picked up for free-to-air coverage on Channel 7’s racing programming as well. Check your wagering operator or Sky Racing’s schedule on the day for exact race times.
The Metropolitan Betting Markets
All major Australian bookmakers price The Metropolitan weeks out, with a full acceptances market released after the final field is declared. The core markets are:
- Fixed-Odds Win & Place: the bread-and-butter markets, with early speculative prices followed by final acceptances pricing.
- Each-Way: typically 1/4 the odds for a place (1-2-3).
- Exotics: quinella, exacta, trifecta and First 4. See our First 4 calculator guide.
- Same Race Multis: combine multiple runners from the same race into one bet. See our Same Race Multi guide.
- Head-to-Head & Group Markets: runner-vs-runner matchups and stable/country markets.
The Metropolitan Betting Trends & Angles
- Sydney’s premier staying handicap is now Group 2, over 2400m at Royal Randwick on Epsom Day in early October.
- Carnival form lines: the same Sydney spring also delivers the world’s richest turf race; see our The Everest tips and The Golden Eagle tips.
- A Melbourne Cup lead-up: Royal Supremacy (2025) ran here before a tilt at the $10M Melbourne Cup; many use it as a Cups stepping stone.
- Stayers with a turn of foot: the 2400m at Randwick rewards horses that can sprint off a staying tempo.
- Weight matters: as a handicap, well-weighted progressive stayers are the value angle.
Best Bookmakers for the Metropolitan
For a full comparison of the top Australian racing bookmakers, see our best horse racing betting sites in Australia guide.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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The Metropolitan FAQs
When is The Metropolitan?
Saturday 3 October 2026 on Epsom Day at Royal Randwick, run over 2400m as a Group 2 staying handicap.
Who won the most recent Metropolitan?
Juja Kibo (2026), after Royal Supremacy (2025), Land Legend (2024), Just Fine (2023) and No Compromise (2022).
How do I bet on The Metropolitan?
All Australian bookmakers offer fixed-odds win and each-way markets, plus Melbourne Cup futures for the stayers that run well.
How can I watch The Metropolitan?
The Metropolitan is broadcast live on Sky Racing and streamed via Racing.com and most licensed Australian bookmakers, with Sydney’s spring Saturdays often also carried free-to-air on Channel 7.
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