Former French stayer Eliyass claims second Australian stakes win and confirms favouritism for Group 1 The Metropolitan

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import Eliyass made it back-to-back Australian stakes wins from as many starts in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup at Randwick.

Tim Clark guides Eliyass to his second Australian win in the Premier's Cup at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Eliyass, the exciting former French stayer, showed why he is the early favourite for the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan with another impressive win at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Eliyass has now scored stakes wins at his only two Australian starts after he outstayed his rivals in the Group 3 $250,000 Premier’s Cup (2000m).

Earlier this winter, Eliyass won the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup and he has been the ruling TAB Fixed Odds favourite at $6 for The Metropolitan ever since.

On a day where Strathtay and Medatsu also showed their The Metropolitan credentials, Eliyass demonstrated why he is the horse to beat in the feature Randwick staying race on October 5.

Eliyass ($2.50 favourite) improved his impressive career record to eight wins (and two seconds) from 10 starts when he resisted the challenge of Touristic ($7.50) to win by a half-length with Super Strike ($12) two-and-a-half lengths away third.

Bott admitted Eliyass looked in trouble when Touristic sprinted quickly halfway down the straight.

“He was vulnerable there at the furlong when challenged, but those good horses, that’s what separates them,” Bott said.

“He’s just able to dig deep, and he found plenty there, through the line. So I’m sure there’s good improvement off the back of that.

“He’s on a Metropolitan path and I think he’ll be better suited when he gets over that little bit further. So there’s a couple of nice options coming up for him, but I think he’s right on track.”

Bott said Eliyass doesn’t need a lot of racing to be fit for The Metropolitan.

Eliyass fights off the field to win the Premiers Cup for @GaiWaterhouse1 and Adrian Bott! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GdXOVDZ6zW

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2024

“I think we’ll bide our time,” Bott said.

“He might have a month between runs now, running 2000m in a month’s time [Kingston Town Stakes], and that’ll be his main lead up for the Metropolitan.”

Top jockey Tim Clark has ridden Eliyass in both Australian wins and is a huge admirer of the six-year-old gelding’s obvious staying ability.

“Horses that build that winning record, they just find a way to keep putting their head out,” Clark said.

“I just loved how he ambled up to them and I think that he’ll be even more suitable in a higher pressure race where, much as you don’t often say this, he’ll be better ridden a pair further back where he’s got something to aim up at.

“He sort of got there too quickly today and so he just thought the job was done until the other horse [Touristic] came at him.”

PROGRESSIVE STAYER MEDATSU LANDS AN EMOTIONAL WIN IN CHARITY SILKS

Medatsu, the promising stayer trainer Chris Waller rates as a potential Group 1 horse, scored an emotion-charged win at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

With star jockey Tommy Berry wearing the special racing silks of the Jersey Day charity, it was a fitting result as Medatsu finished strongly to win the Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel Handicap (1600m).

The charity concept has been inspired by the tragic story of 13-year-old Nathan Gremmo who was critically injured when crossing the road in 2015.

In their grief, Nathan’s family acknowledged his generous spirit and donated his organs which were used to save six lives – five young adults and a baby.

To honour Nathan’s memory, Jersey Day asks workplaces and schools across the nation to allow their employees and students to wear their favourite sporting jersey to show their support of the DonateLife network.

Medatsu pulls away late to take out Race 4 at Randwick for @TommyBerry21 and @cwallerracing! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/H5tFTAb9lL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2024

Waller is a supporter of the Jersey Day campaign which is all about raising awareness of organ donation and beginning the conversation with their friends and families.

“As a result of what happened to Nathan, he has saved several other lives with organ donation and that’s what it’s all about,” Waller said.

“It’s great to see, not just racing, but the whole country – the Prime Minister was in a jersey last year on Jersey Day. It’s raising awareness of organ donation.

“It might be the end of one person’s life but it’s such an important thing for other people.”

Many of Nathan’s family and friends were on track to cheer home Medatsu ($5) who finished powerfully down the centre of the track to win by nearly two lengths from Peace Officer ($4.60) with Miss You Ella ($15) a half length away third.

West Of Africa ($4.40 favourite) was back at the rear of the field before gaining a dream rails run in the straight but couldn’t sustain his sprint and ran seventh.

Waller revealed plans to set Medatsu for the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 5 after the gelding scored his second win from as many starts this season.

“We will sneak our way towards perhaps a Metropolitan,’’ Waller said.

“He’s a very progressive horse. I was a little bit concerned whether 1600m might have been a bit short for him today, but he showed great acceleration and he can step up in distance now.

“For (owner) Tony Muollo and myself, it’s a pretty special race, so we will try to get there with him.

“He’s also in the ownership of Unusual Legacy, that’s why he was scratched today, he can run next week instead.”

Originally published as Former French stayer Eliyass claims second Australian stakes win and confirms favouritism for Group 1 The Metropolitan