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By Ray Hickson

Just Fine has been nothing short of a revelation since he landed down under and, if he remains popular, could easily become the shortest priced winner of the Group 1 $750,000 James Squire Metropolitan (2400m) if successful at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Adrian Bott. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The import, formerly owned by King Charles III, is also out to give co-trainer Adrian Bott his first Metropolitan and Gai Waterhouse her ninth win in the race.

Tulloch Lodge has four runners in the spring staying feature – Sydney Cup winner Knights Order, Newcastle Cup winner Military Mission and ATC Derby winner Major Beel make up the quartet – but all eyes are on the former European who was $1.90 with TAB after drawing barrier two.

While favourites have a solid enough record in the race that dates back to 1866, Magic Hurricane in 2015 the latest winner at $3.10, if Just Fine stays odds-on and wins he’ll surpass Natski (1988) and Duke Foote (1912), who both started even money or $2, as the shortest priced winner.

Bott said Just Fine has been a surprise packet from the perspective that nobody saw his runaway win over a mile first-up coming, but he then underlined his talent by producing that tough win in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).

“We gave him a bit of time, this prep he’s progressed very well,’’ Bott said.

“He’d shown quite a bit going into the races but we didn’t expect him to be as effective as he was first time at the mile.

“Sometimes they can lure you in, these Europeans, show you plenty at home but still need that preparation to adjust to those race conditions.”

Rachel King partnered the six-year-old to his Australian debut win and with the horse carrying just 50kg is reunited in the Metropolitan.

Bott said Just Fine has managed to beat the handicapper and that will give the gelding every opportunity to continue on his winning way.

“He’s well weighted in a race like this and I think the 2400m here shouldn’t be a problem,’’ he said.

“Rachel knows him well, he’s continued to improve each time he’s stepped out. That win last time had so much merit to it.

“He absorbed a lot of pressure the other day on pace and was still able to show a good turn of foot. He’s shown speed off a strong mile as well so at 2400m he should be even better placed.”

The last Newcastle Cup winner to take out the Metropolitan was Gai Waterhouse’s latest Metrop winner Glencadam Gold back in 2012 and that’s the double Military Mission is eyeing on Saturday.

The six-year-old, to be partnered by Zac Lloyd, doesn’t have the luxurious barrier that the favourite came up with but he overcame a tricky draw to win at Newcastle.

“That was a really strong win there at Newcastle, he seems to be improving and peaking at the right time,’’ Bott said.

Derby winner Major Beel was beaten 3-1/2 lengths by Just Fine in the Kingston Town, at his third run since his Group 1 win, and Bott said he’s now starting to come into his own this preparation.

“In the Chelmsford (second-up) he was good at weight-for-age, I thought certainly the run still had a bit of merit last start,’’ he said.

“He’s starting to look for a bit further now. He naturally puts himself on pace, he’s still got more improvement to come and we think he will be better over further again.”

It’s been nearly 40 years since a horse carried 57.5kg to win a Metropolitan and that’s the task Knights Order is faced with if he’s to be successful on Saturday.

While the gelding, who won the Sydney Cup in 2022 and ran third in the race this year, has an excellent Randwick record he couldn’t go with Just Fine when they met two weeks ago.

“He has it against him with the weight but I feel this is a more suitable distance for him. He looks fantastic and is improving,’’ Bott said.

Waterhouse also holds the TAB Epsom record with six winners, the latest in 2012 with Fat Al, and Bott is also chasing his first as the partnership has Converge tackling the $1.5 million mile.

Just Fine wins the Kingston Town Stakes

The five-year-old started favourite when he resumed in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie (1400m) and finished a creditable fourth under 59kg, he drops 4kg and will have his preferred dry ground to race on.

Converge recorded Group 1 placings in the autumn behind Anamoe in the George Ryder and Think About It in the Kingsford-Smith Cup so Bott said he’s nicely in under handicap conditions.

“He’s in great shape, he seems pretty well weighted,’’ he said.

“A mile should suit, his last few runs have been good. It’s been a little time since he’s won but he does improve second-up and he’s had some good weight-for-age form.

“A high pressure mile is ideal for him, he’ll be well placed if we can get a bit of speed on.”

After the scratching of early favourite Pericles on Tuesday, Converge was $15 with TAB in the Epsom.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting