Metropolitan to Stand for €15,000 at Haras d’Etreham

Metropolitan (FR), Haras d'Etreham's new recruit and winner of this year's French Two Thousand Guineas (G1), will stand for an opening fee of €15,000 (US$16,200, €1=US$1.08) in 2025. The son of Zarak (FR) was unbeaten in two starts at 2 for Mario Baratti and secured his career highlight on his second start at 3 when denying Alcantor (FR) in a thrilling finish to the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1). He went on to show that was no fluke, placing third to Rosallion (IRE) in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) and second to Charyn (IRE) in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1). Bred by Stuart McPhee, Metropolitan is the best miler by the high-flying Zarak and one of three individual group 1 winners by the Aga Khan sire. He is the fourth foal out of the Halling mare Alianza and hails from the family of 1999 Norfolk Stakes (G3) winner and Prix Morny (G1) second Warm Heart. Baratti said: "Metropolitan has always been an exceptional horse, with a rare presence. He is strong, compact, and boasts an excellent acceleration. "From the beginning of his career in Deauville at 2 years old, until the Jacques le Marois, he continually demonstrated his incredible ability. It has been a memorable experience to train him and we wish him great success in his new career as a stallion." Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure added: "Metropolitan is a top-class stallion prospect and we are enthusiastic about his arrival at the stud for 2025. We have nothing but praise for him. He is a magnificent horse with a faultless physique. "His pedigree represents a real asset for breeding because as a descendant of Dubawi, Storm Cat and Sharpen Up, he is exempt of the bloodlines of Danzig and Sadler's Wells and can be crossed with a multitude of mares. "His qualities as a racehorse are also remarkable. Combative and precocious, with great natural speed, he has powerful assets to succeed as a sire. His name Metropolitan is well chosen with reference to the cosmopolitan connections associated with his career. We would like to thank them once again for their trust and we are delighted that we will join together to support Metropolitan in his new role as a stallion." Joint-owner Peter Bradley, of Lexington-based Bradley Thoroughbreds, commented: "I want to thank Alessandro Marconi and Mario Baratti for giving my team the opportunity to buy a majority interest in Metropolitan after his brilliant first race at Deauville at 2. His race record is eclipsed only by his exceptional physique. I now look forward to remaining active and to be supporting him in his stallion career." A small number of shares will be available in Metropolitan, who joins City Light (FR), Hello Youmzain (FR), Persian King (IRE), Victor Ludorum (GB), and Onesto (IRE) at the stud.