Bradley Photographers
Promising stayer Social Element will make an earlier-than-expected foray into stakes racing at Randwick on Saturday.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott admitted the Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) wasn't originally on Social Element's schedule but a string of consistent performances have changed the stayer's spring timetable.
"He's continued to impress us with how much he's improved from each start so we keep raising the bar," Bott said.
Social Element has two wins and has never finished worse than third in his six-race career.
"Every time we've stepped it up with him he's responded really well but this is a big ask for him again to take that next step into Listed company," Bott said.
"He's still just learning how to race to tell you the truth but he keeps improving and next preparation you'll see a quality stayer, a really furnished horse."
Social Element is pitted against Joe Pride's 74-start workhorse Destiny's Kiss and Chris Waller has one-time favourite for The Metropolitan, Alward, making his black-type debut after winning four of his five races since arrivingfrom France.
Alward was the $2.10 favourite with the TAB and Social Element was on the third line of betting at $5 behind Admiral Jello ($2.90)
Social Element, a son of Savabeel, was sold for $55,000 as a yearling through the NZB draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds before making $200,000 as a Ready To Run purchase from the draft of Mana Park. -AAP