The Newcastle trainer has enjoyed the smoothest of preparations with the 6-year-old, who has won six of his eight starts since joining his operation from David Simcock’s Newmarket stable.
Mugatoo is unbeaten in his last three appearances and has done well since he provided Lees with a cherished win on his home track in the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup. Kerrin McEvoy will continue his association with the gelding.
“He has come up very well and it’s another test for him. He’s up in trip and he’s got a good horse’s weight (57kg) in a Group 1 race,” Lees said.
“He can’t do much more than he has so far this preparation and he’s gone forward since Newcastle.”
Mugatoo, who like his three stablemates races in the Australian Bloodstock colours, beat race rival Hush Writer (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) at Newcastle with the Lees-prepared Attention Run (Ger) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) a sound third.
To be ridden again by Andrew Gibbons, Attention Run comes off the ballot and will meet Mugatoo 2kg better off in the weights, a fact not lost on Lees who rates the mare highly.
“My word, with a soft draw and no weight (50kg) on her back she will run a bold race. She’ll put herself in the first half of the field and give herself every chance,” he said.
“My word, with a soft draw and no weight (50kg) on her back she [Attention Run] will run a bold race.” – Kris Lees
Topweight Mustajeer (GB) (Medicean {GB}) raced well through the summer and autumn for Lees with success in the Listed Parramatta Cup and then finished runner-up in both the G3 Sky High S. and the G1 Tancred S.
The 8-year-old hasn’t showed a lot in two runs to open this preparation, unplaced in the G3 Premier’s Cup when resuming and then beat only one home in the G3 Kingston Town S.
However, in his favour is that he is a black-type winner in Ireland over this trip but like barnmate Raheen House (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) he is going to need to turn his form around sharply.
Raheen House has had a couple of runs and most recently finished well off the pace in the Listed Wyong Cup .
Raheen House
“He’s going really well at home, but to be fair he is looking for softer ground and it’s whether he will let down on the firmer track. He does have an affinity with Randwick though, he races well there,” Lees said.
Jason Collett will be aboard Raheen House for the first time while Mustajeer will be reunited with Hugh Bowman, whose only ride on the gelding was in the Parramatta Cup.
G1 Heineken Metropolitan, $750,000, 2400m
Mugatoo (Ire) (Henrythenavigator {USA}) has won his last three starts, including a grand performance to land the G3 Newcastle Cup. He drops 2kg on that run so he looks in with a top chance of continuing his run of form.
Zebrowski (NZ) (Savabeel) has a sense of timing about him and is a serious lightweight hope. He was a sound fourth in the G3 Kingston Town S. and will relish the step up in distance.
Hush Writer (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) was second to Mugatoo at Newcastle and meets him 2kg better off. Wu Gok (Sebring) stays well and any easing of the ground would boost the 7-year-old’s prospects as he has an excellent record on rain-affected tracks.
Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has improved with each outing and is a three-time winner at this trip. His run for fourth in the G3 JRA Cup should have him at peak fitness.
Brimham Rocks (GB) (Fastnet Rock) was third in the G3 Kingston Town S. and is another who will appreciate the distance while Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) produced an eye-catching finish for fifth in that race and will love a decent surface.
