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Seville has recorded a long overdue maiden Australian victory by taking out the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick last Saturday.
The Lloyd Williams-raced import has shown intermittent glimpses of promise since an Australian debut during April 2012 with a close second in the 2012 Turnbull Stakes behind stablemate Green Moon a perfect case in point.
A virus last spring derailed Seville’s spring where he had shot up betting for both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup following the Turnbull Stakes.
Seville had made little impression during four runs so far this campaign but did have factors in his favour fifth up contesting the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m).
Runner up in both the 2011 Irish Derby (2414m) and the Grand Prix De Paris (2400m), Seville was always going to relish getting out to 12 furlongs for the first time since arriving in Australia.
Add to that the addition of blinkers and Lloyd Williams’ success in Sydney staying features, an improved showing was expected from the son of Galileo last Saturday.
From barrier 3, Seville was allowed all of the favours in behind Julienas with stablemate Mourayan sitting outside the leader.
A moderate tempo was set by Julienas and Tommy Berry who steered the UK import out closer to the centre of the track upon straightening.
It gave Seville the chance to stay along the fence where under the urgings of Bowman proceeded to challenge from the 200m before edging clear for a half length success.
Julienas was brave in defeat for second with the Peter Moody-trained Sneak A Peek solid to the line in claiming third.
Seville’s Metropolitan Handicap success was assessed at 120, well clear of the events prior five year winning average.
120 rates as the second highest winning Metropolitan figure since 1991, only behind the 121 recorded by the Gai Waterhouse-trained Coco Cobanna in 2000.
Conducted under handicap conditions, the highest figure run to since 1991 in The Metropolitan is 125 held by another Gai Waterhouse stayer, Nothin’ Leica Dane.
Carrying 56kg, Nothin’ Leica Dane ran a brave second behind stablemate Hula Flight during the 1996 renewal.
Seville will now return to Victoria as he is aimed towards the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
Connections at this stage plan on running the northern hemisphere five-year-old in the Cox Plate prior to the Melbourne Cup.
While Railings and Tawqeet each went on to claim the Caulfield Cup after winning the Metropolitan in 2005 and 2006 respectively, the past five years of The Metropolitan haven’t quite been as impressive from a form perspective.
In fact, when looking at the past 20 renewals of The Metropolitan, the subsequent feats of Tawqeet and Railings appear to be the exception opposed to the rule.
No Metropolitan winners since Tawqeet have gone on to enjoy further success when venturing south for the rest of the spring.
12 months ago, Metropolitan runner up Kelinni booked himself a spot in the Melbourne Cup when winning the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m).
He then proceeded to run fourth in the Melbourne Cup while Metropolitan winner Glencadam Gold bounced back from a poor Caulfield Cup effort when sixth.
Third and fourth behind the Chris Waller-trained duo of The Verminator and Hawk Island in the 2011 Metropolitan, Lamasery and Ironstein each enjoyed successes during the Flemington carnival that spring.
Lamasery claimed the Johnnie Walker Stakes (1800m) while Ironstein took out the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth (2600m).
While possessing the second highest winning Timeform figure of the Metropolitan since 1991, Seville is also confirmed a start in the Melbourne Cup.
Seville possesses a master Timeform figure of 123 recorded when placing in the Grand Prix De Paris which suggests there is further room for improvement heading toward his main spring goal.