Improving mare Bianca turned in a great trial for the Metropolitan Handicap with a strong win in Thursday's Group Three Newcastle Cup.The 2300m victory gave the Gai Waterhouse-trained mare her third Cup win this preparation after earlier wins in the Ipswich Cup and the recent Wyong Cup where she beat Keepin' The Dream by a head.Today was more of the same, with Keepin' The Dream again running second but this time beaten by 1-3/4 lengths.Old warrior Country Tyrone bowed out of racing in style by f

Improving mare Bianca turned in a great trial for the Metropolitan Handicap with a strong win in Thursday's Group Three Newcastle Cup.

The 2300m victory gave the Gai Waterhouse-trained mare her third Cup win this preparation after earlier wins in the Ipswich Cup and the recent Wyong Cup where she beat Keepin' The Dream by a head.

Today was more of the same, with Keepin' The Dream again running second but this time beaten by 1-3/4 lengths.

Old warrior Country Tyrone bowed out of racing in style by finishing third, a further 1-1/2 lengths back.

Nash Rawiller took advantage of Bianca's inside barrier to park the mare on the fence in third place.

While he was cruising, Jim Cassidy tried to steal the Cup on Keepin' The Dream, clearing out to try to open up a big break on the remainder of the field.

However, he had little peace with Tye Angland on Magic Hour trailing him.

Cassidy slowed the pace mid race before increasing the tempo at the 1000 metres but again Magic Hour refused to leave him alone.

Keepin' The Dream was still in front halfway down the straight but once Rawiller eased one off the fence and gave the mare full rein Bianca bounded up to the leader and moved away to win with style.

Bianca's owner, George Cloros, has already won two Metropolitans with Coco Cabana and Injoyment and now has his sights on his third.

"This is why Gai is such a great trainer," Cloros said.

"She sits down and puts together a plan and follows it through and it all works out."

Stable representative Tania Rouse said Bianca would not have another run before the Metropolitan (2400m) on October 4.

"This mare has developed and matured with every run this preparation," Rouse said.

"The trip to Brisbane was the making of her."

Keepin' The Dream's trainer, Jim Lee, was shaking his disbelief after his second defeat in a feature Cup.

"He is only four and six months away from being a good stayer," Lee said.

"However we will press on towards the Metropolitan and hope for some luck."

Red Lord retains favouritism at $3.80 for the Metropolitan with Bianca now second elect at $7.50.