Metropolitan favourite to show credentials

Alward has another opportunity to justify his high rating for the Group One Metropolitan when the Irish-bred gelding tries for a third-straight win at Rosehill.

The five-year-old joined Chris Waller’s stable from France last September and came to prominence with his first win in Australia at Flemington last month.

Alward then leapt to the head betting for the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on September 30 when scoring over 2000m at Rosehill a fortnight ago.

Waller now brings Alward back in trip for the Parramatta Handicap (1800m), a Benchmark 81 race, on Saturday.

Alward, the $1.90 favourite, is lumped with 59.5kg but Waller is relaxed about the impost and the shorter distance.

“We’ve purposefully backed off his work and just galloped him at three-quarter pace,” he said.

“He was well held the last furlong in a couple of his gallops. He’ll certainly be fit enough, he should be sharp enough as well.

“In a race like this coming back in trip you tell the jockey (Hugh Bowman) to use the full length of the straight.

“Don’t expect him to win it at the 300-metre mark but he should gradually wear them down and be very hard to beat again.”

Alward was installed as the $6 favourite for The Metropolitan on the strength of that win, while stablemates Antonio Giuseppe and Up ‘N’ Rolling are next in line as $8 chances.