What the jockeys said after the 2017 Metropolitan

Breednet - Saturday September 30

Foundry has broken through for his first win in 1322 days in Saturday's Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick to give jockey Michael Dee his first Group I win.

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Michael Dee claimed his first Group I win in the Metropolitan. Photo: Steve Hart

The Robert Hickmott-trained import forged to the front with Big Duke ($5) but edged clear in the final stages to win by half a length with a further 1-1/4 lengths Chocante ($21) in third.

Race 8 – GROUP I THE METROPOLITAN (2400m)

Place

Horse

Jockey

Comment

1st

FOUNDRY (IRE)

Michael Dee

I'm speechless, I've never ridden a winner at this track, I've been up here a few times now. To win a Group 1, I just couldn't be happier. To Lloyd Williams and the team at Macedon Lodge, thank you very much for having me on. The horse is a beauty, he's just lovely to ride, they brought him here in tip-top shape and he ran accordingly. He jumped really well and got there quite easily, I didn't have to use up much gas early. I got pushed out three-wide on the bend, but luckily I was able to come back and land in the one-one.
From then on he travelled beautifully throughout, the team said once he got to the 800m to make it a true staying test so I let him stride and to the horse's credit, he toughed it right out.

2nd

BIG DUKE (IRE)

Brenton Avdulla

He ran terrific. Thought he was the winner halfway up the straight. Probably from the 2000m to the 2400m on the back up he just felt the pinch the last 50m but he's on target.

3rd

CHOCANTE (NZ)

Corey Brown

He ran great. I thought I was home when I topped the rise, the winner and the second horse were just that little bit sharper on the line but he ran super, the further he goes the better he'll get.

4th

WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ)

Hugh Bowman

Ran well.

5th

BROADSIDE (NZ)

Tim Clark

I thought he was pretty brave. Definitely a better performance this week down in the weights. He's probably capable of going to Melbourne and picking off a slightly lesser race.

6th

LIBRAN (IRE)

Glyn Schofield

I enjoyed a lovely run, no real excuses.

7th

ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (NZ)

Joao Moreira

A bit disappointing. He had a beautiful run through, just couldn't finish it off with them.

8th

MY DIAMANTINE (NZ)

Andrew Spinks

She ran out of her skin. When the tempo slackened around the back just passing the 1800m she just got on the chewy and threw her head. She just wouldn't quite settle today, bit out of sorts, but looking good.

9th

LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE)

Kerrin McEvoy

Went to settle back and I was happy with how he travelled. Loomed into it and then my run ended at the furlong so my first thought when I hopped off was that he might enjoy more cut in the ground. Hopefully he gets some rain around for his upcoming runs in the spring.

10th

DESTINY'S KISS

Jason Collett

Just outsprinted when they quickened.

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