Apprentice Zac Wadick is striving create history in The Metropolitan at his first ride in a Group 1

Apprentice Zac Wadick thought he might be a chance to land a lightweight Group 1 ride during the spring carnival but never expected to pick up one of the favourites for The Metropolitan.

Apprentice Zac Wadick knows maiden Group 1 rides don’t come much better than impressive stayer Future History at Royal Randwick this Saturday.

Wadick will get the biggest chance of his young career when he connects with the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer in the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m).

The 21-year-old is still chasing his maiden stakes winner but will get a golden opportunity on the big stage aboard one of the leading chances in this week’s staying feature.

Future History is on the third line of betting at $8.50 to win The Metropolitan.

“In terms of Group 1 rides, other than it being an odds on pop, it’s a very good ride,” Wadick said.

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“Jeff Lloyd, my manager, rang me and asked if he could put my name in the ring for him with the lightweight.

“He rang me back 10 minutes later and said I snagged the ride so I was over the moon.

“I knew this time of the year when you get the handicap races with the lightweight, the people that can ride them gets cut in half so I knew I might get an opportunity.”

Future History started his career in France but has gone to a new level in Australia.

He was a winner on the same day last year by claiming the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) before going on to finish 15th in the Melbourne Cup.

Maher has opted for a different path this time around.

Both of Future History’s prep runs have come at Caulfield and the son of Showcasing when close in both.

The six-year-old worked home strongly for third in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) first up before narrowly going down when second in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).

“It looks like he has been crying out for 2400m,” Wadick said.

“He is obviously proven over further and is a proven stayer but this preparation he’s been looking to build for that mile and a quarter.

“It looks like when he goes into it on Saturday, which will be his comfortable distance.

“He should be running a good race.”

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Wadick’s first Group 1 ride comes less than a year after the young gun made the switch back to Sydney to join Brad Widdup.

He started his career riding for Mark Newnham before spending time in the bush at Taree with Glen Milligan.

Wadick is relishing being back in the city.

“I am enjoying it,” Wadick said.

“It’s been a bit up and down, it’s not always easy to get the results in Sydney that you are after especially at this time of year.

“I am trying to keep the ball rolling and it’s not always easy but I am trying to put my best foot forward and ride as good as I can.”

The NSW Sydney apprentices’ premiership looks set to be wide open this season as two-time winner Zac Lloyd is set to come to the end of his next month.

It’s a goal of Wadick’s to win the coveted title.

“It’s a realistic goal to have with Zac departing later this year as an apprentice,” Wadick said.

“It is a goal and something I can work towards for next August but I have always wanted to keep improving as a rider and wherever that takes me, that’s where it ends up.

“But it will keep me fuelled up motivation wise.”

Wadick rides Cirebon (race one), Little Mix (race five) and Astero (race 10).

Originally published as Apprentice Zac Wadick is striving create history in The Metropolitan at his first ride in a Group 1