BRILLIANT WIN IN METROPOLITAN BY FREEDMAN-TRAINED IMPORT

IMPORTED galloper Speed Gifted claimed favoritism for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with a brilliant win in the $350,000 G1 Metropolitan, 2400m, at Randwick on Saturday.

Bookmakers reacted quickly promoting Speed Gifted to $4.50 favoritism for the Caulfield Cup despite the fact that a start in the big race still rests with what penalty he receives from the Racing Victoria handicapper.

The Lee Freedman-trained stayer overcame the elimination clause and moved to equal 36^th in the Caulfield Cup order of entry. But the penalty, to be announced on Monday, will almost certainly ensure Speed Gifted of a start.

Speed Gifted, the best backed in early betting on The Metropolitan, actually drifted on track to start $6 when the rain arrived and the going turned to heavy. Ridden a perfect race by Corey Brown he bolted clear in the final furlong to win by more than three lengths from Lodge The Deeds, $20. Fiumicino, $11, ran an improved third, aided by the wet track.

“Corey had plenty of horse underneath him at the 600m and he did the right thing, clearly he gets through the wet,” Freedman stable representative, Sam Pritchard-Gordon said.

“There was a query whether he was going to get a strong 2400m despite having that form over in the UK but that has been put to rest now in real good style.”

Brown said Speed Gifted was travelling well at the half mile and he had no concerns about picking up the leading bunch. “He actually cost himself more ground in the straight by running around. If you look at the 200m he runs in then comes back out again at the post but he is a pretty good horse I think.

“It was nearly a two mile race on that kind of surface. He did everything well. He travelled well and did everything perfect bar looking about in the straight so I would love to be in Dwayne Dunn’s shoes at the moment,” Brown said.

Speed Gifted now heads the Caulfield Cup markets at $4.50 ahead of Predatory Pricer at $8, Cima De Triomphe and Vigor at $12, Maldivian $13, Daffodil and Kirklees at $15 and Shocking at $17.

In Melbourne Cup betting Speed Gifted is a $5.50 favorite ahead of surprise Turnbull Stakes winner, Efficient at $6, Profound Beauty and Viewed at $13, C’est La Geurre $17 and Light Vision at $18.