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.
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. |
|
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. |
