Chris Waller boasts imposing The Metropolitan hand but will sweat on a start for emerging talent Unusual Legacy

Chris Waller has five confirmed starters and three emergencies as he seeks a sixth victory in the Group 1 The Metropolitan.

Unusual Legacy (white) is sweating on a Metropolitan start. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Chris Waller will be forced to sweat on a start for emerging talent Unusual Legacy in Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan but stablemates Land Legend, First Light and Etna Rosso still have the leading trainer in the box seat for the Royal Randwick staying test.

Waller accepted with a massive team of eight contenders for the 2400m feature however three of those ended up among the emergencies, headlined by rising star and $8 third elect Unusual Legacy.

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A winner at five of his nine starts, Unusual Legacy was stranded as The Metropolitan’s third emergency alongside stablemates Strathtay (second emergency) and Matusalem (fourth emergency) - both $51 outsiders for the race.

Unusual Legacy ran a narrow second to stablemate Firestorm at Rosehill Gardens over 1900m and drew perfectly in barrier four for the Group 1 but will need luck to make the field.

Firestorm! 🔥 That's back-to-back wins since resuming. She holds out stablemate Unusual Legacy and gives @cwallerracing a quinella. Another top ride @mcacajamez. pic.twitter.com/r7KwlH4PlZ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 28, 2024

“You can’t have it all,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.

“Particularly the bottom two, Unusual Legacy and Matusalem (it’s disappointing).

“I know Unusual Legacy didn’t win on Saturday but that horse (Firestorm) is going to an Epsom so it’s obviously not a bad horse at all and Matusalem is a last-start winner.

“They are exciting horses and horses on the up, it’s just whether we can get them in and they’ve got nice draws to go with it.”

Duckworth revealed there is a possibility El Bodegon ($101) will head to Melbourne instead for the Group 3 $500,000 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington after the import drew barrier 17.

The stable’s other four confirmed starters dominate the market with Land Legend ($6 fav) slightly shading last Saturday’s Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality winner First Light ($7).

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First Light won his way into the Metropolitan via the Colin Stephen Quality. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

They’ve drawn barriers seven and two respectively.

“Land Legend will improve up to 2400m and was hitting the line strongly last start and will come on for it,” Duckworth said.

“He’s got a nice weight and a soft draw so he should be right there.

“First Light has come through his last run well and is on the seven-day back-up.

“He is a rock hard fit horse and you need a horse in form. He wasn’t going to make the field until Saturday.”

Etna Rosso ($9) has drawn out in barrier 13 but the stable has got a vote of confidence with Kerrin McEvoy sticking aboard.

The son of Decorated Knight raced into contention with a gutsy win in the Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) last time out.

“If you take the Wyong Cup run out of it (two starts ago), it looks like Etna Rosso has had a terrific campaign,” Duckworth said.

“Kerrin rides him well and is a last-start winner on a couple of the runners and he’s opted to go there so that’s a nudge in the right direction.”

Manzoice ($15) was a last-start placegetter in the Wyong Cup and the former Victoria Derby winner is expected to relish the 2400m with 50kg on his back.

Originally published as Chris Waller boasts imposing The Metropolitan hand but will sweat on a start for emerging talent Unusual Legacy