First Light storms into calculations for The Metropolitan and adds to trainer Chris Waller’s strong arsenal for Group 1 feature

Champion trainer Chris Waller has described First Light as a ‘stayer on the rise’ following his last-to-first win in the Colin Stephens Quality at Rosehill.

Tommy Berry brought First Light with a strong run from last to win Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller could have as many as eight starters in the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan including promising stayer First Light after his runaway win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Former English stayer First Light made an impressive last-to-first sweep to take out the Group 3 $250,000 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m).

First Light’s win means he is exempt from ballot and penalty for The Metropolitan (2400m) where he drops 4kg to just 50kg for the big race.

Waller said his The Metropolitan team would include First Light, race favourite Land Legend, last start Newcastle Gold Cup winner Etna Rosso, El Bodegon, Manzoice, Strathtay, Matusalem and possibly Unusual Legacy, who was narrowly beaten in the Egroup Protective Services Handicap.

First Light goes $7.50 in to $4.80 with @tabcomau and bursts clear to win the G3 Colin Stephen Quality 🏇💨@[e-mail]/6lid4FM6AT

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 28, 2024

Unusual Legacy’s close second to stablemate Firestorm was a solid Metropolitan trial and he drops 8kg to just 50kg next Saturday – if he gets a start.

“We will have a good representation in The Metropolitan but a couple of them, Unusual Legacy and Matusalem are way down the order of entry and we have to hope they make the field,” Waller said.

“But First Light has got himself into The Metropolitan with his win today and he’s a stayer on the rise.”

First Light ($4.80), ridden patiently by Tommy Berry, came from last with a wide run around the turn before sweeping clear to win by a widening three lengths from early leader Changingoftheguard ($5) with Strathtay ($3.20 favourite) a short head away third.

Berry said he approached the Rosehill race with confidence after First Light’s recent improving form.

“I had a really good feeling about him today and he was dominant,” Berry said.,

“Chris just wrapped up his preparation perfectly and I know he really likes wet ground. I said to Chris before the race, ‘I just would have loved it to be a bit softer’ and he goes, ‘he’ll be right’.

Will @cwallerracing take First Light into the G1 Metropolitan next weekend on the quick back-up? He goes $51 into $15 with @tabcomau after that impressive win. pic.twitter.com/XUwmcCW2cC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 28, 2024

“So that gave me the confidence to ride him like I usually do and forget about the first half of the race, and when he’s in a field where it’s not that big and he doesn’t have as much ground to make up, he’s quite dynamic.”

Waller said Berry’s astute ride enabled First Light to demonstrate his staying ability and powers of acceleration.

“It was an exciting win,” Waller said. “Tommy just let him do his own thing, flopped out of the barriers, minded his own business and joined in at the top of the straight before coming away for a really good win.

“There’s The Metropolitan next week and it’s a Group 1 race so I’ll have a talk to (owner) Mrs Rupert and her team and see what they’ve got to say because they bred this horse in England and sent him out, so I’m sure it would mean a lot to them, a Group 1 win or a Group 1 placing.

“We’ve found in the past, backing horses up, it’s not always the worst thing in a staying race, they need to be fit. He can go home and won’t have to do any more galloping, he’s had his gallop today.”

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

Waller is chasing a sixth win in The Metropolitan and dominates early TAB Fixed Odds betting with Land Legend the $6 favourite just ahead of stablemates Etna Rosso and Unusual Legacy at $8 with First Light now at $15.

Importantly, although the Colin Stephen Quality is a traditional The Metropolitan lead-up race no horse has won both races since Railings in 2005.

Promising mare Firestorm is not entered for The Metropolitan but she has Waller rethinking spring carnival plans after scoring her second wins from as many starts this spring.

Firestorm ($10) finished powerfully near the inside and edged out Unusual Legacy ($3.20 favourite) in a thrilling finish with Raf Attack ($17) just over a length away third.

Waller said Firestorm had shown potential with two stakes placings in Brisbane during the winter but has returned a better racehorse as a four-year-old.

“Firestorm is improving all the time and we will try to find a nice 2000m race for her,” Waller said.

“Unusual Legacy tried hard and seems like he is looking for 2400m so if he can get into The Metropolitan field next week he would be a good lightweight chance.”

Originally published as First Light storms into calculations for The Metropolitan and adds to trainer Chris Waller’s strong arsenal for Group 1 feature