True Metropolitan Completes Cinderella Story

October 18, 2006

Already recognized as Horse of the Year in Alberta, Bob Cheema’s True Metropolitan took a major stride in gaining the same status in British Columbia with a sparkling victory in today’s $125,000 Added B.C. Premiers at Hastings Racecourse.

True Metropolitan, trained by Terry Jordan and ridden by Quincy Welch, beat Spaghetti Mouse by 3 ¾ lengths over the 1 3/8 miles distance in a time of 2:17.03. The victory added $86,940 to make True Metropolitan’s total earnings this year of $312,340.

When Cheema bought True Metropolitan last year, he was considered a potential candidate for the B.C. Derby but failed to score enough earnings to qualify. He started only once for Cheema in 2005, finishing last in a minor stakes on the supporting card for the B.C. Derby.

But True Metropolitan blossomed as a four-year old, winning five of his last six starts, all stakes, and has never lost with Welch riding him. “He’s a versatile horse,” Welch said after today’s win. “We’ve had some good times together.”

Four True Metropolitan’s stakes wins were in Alberta and the fifth was the Sir Winston Churchill at Hastings against Spaghetti Mouse Sept. 24.

For Jordan, today’s victory made him the second trainer based at Hastings to break the $1 million mark in earnings for a season, Lance Giesbrecht was the first. Roughly 40 per cent of Jordan’s earnings were won in Alberta.

Gins Majesty out of Quadrum Farms in Spokane, Wash., won Saturday’s Ballerina Breeders’ Cup with a 1 ¾ lengths win over Slewpast at Hastings. Trained by Tim McCanna, Gins Majesty earned $109,920 with Kevin Krigger aboard in a final time over the 1 1/8 miles distance of 1:52.80.

For Media & Entertainment Inquiries: Howard Blank @ 604.303.1000