Favourite Herculian Prince will be given a searching gallop on Wednesday to confirm his place in The Metropolitan.The gelding put in the worst run of his career when last in Saturday's Colin Stephen over 2400 metres, the same distance as the Metropolitan, and was subsequently found to have choked down.But he recovered immediately and trainer Gai Waterhouse is confident a gear adjustment will do the trick and allow him to get his spring back on track on Saturday."No-one was more shocked than me a
Favourite Herculian Prince will be given a searching gallop on Wednesday to confirm his place in The Metropolitan.
The gelding put in the worst run of his career when last in Saturday's Colin Stephen over 2400 metres, the same distance as the Metropolitan, and was subsequently found to have choked down.
But he recovered immediately and trainer Gai Waterhouse is confident a gear adjustment will do the trick and allow him to get his spring back on track on Saturday.
"No-one was more shocked than me about his run," Waterhouse said.
"The vet said he had his tongue over the bit when he came back and showed every sign of choking down.
"He's going to wear a tongue control bit and we'll work him tomorrow.
"He recovered quickly and remains well. He didn't lose a kilo.
"Who knows why it happened, he's a big highly-strung horse and maybe he was a bit nervous."
Punters showed few nerves, reinstating him as favourite on Saturday night after Colin Stephen winner No Wine No Song briefly assumed the role.
TAB Sportsbet had Herculian Prince at $4.60 on Tuesday with No Wine No Song at $6 and Hawk Island and Mr Charlie both at $10.
Waterhouse is looking to bring up a century of Group One winners this weekend on the 18th anniversary of her first.
And it would be fitting if Herculian Prince could be the one to commemorate Te Akau Nick's victory in the 1992 Metropolitan.
The Metropolitan has been one of her most successful races with six wins overall but none since Dress Circle in 2001.
Rosehill trainer Chris Waller will rely on Hawk Island in the race after deciding to send Snow Alert for a break.
Snow Alert ran second to Hawk Island in the Wyong Cup (2100m) and second to Stratofortress in the Newcastle Cup (2300m) with the 1800 metres of the Premiers Cup his longest win.
Apart from an 11-week break earlier this year, Hawk Island has been racing since December 2009.
He has yet to win beyond 2100 metres but will be given his chance on Saturday.
The Lee Freedman-trained Fanjura is unlikely to make the trip from Melbourne while Lloyd Williams is expected to have one runner but has not yet nominated which of his several entries it will be.
Final fields for the four Group One races at Randwick and Sunday's Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington will be declared on Wednesday morning.