Story by Racenet's Mitch Cohen 3:39pm • 01 October 2025
Group 1 Racing
They are the "Aussie-bred bargain buys" on a Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) collision course with the big-money European stayers.
Piggyback and Flying Bandit may not have the global trotting staying appeal of many of their rivals but will fly the flag for Australian breeders in the $750,000 test at Randwick this weekend.
Combined the Widden Stud raised pair cost owners less than $50,000.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Piggyback was initially sold for $32,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
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PIGGYBACK out-toughs and out-stays stablemate Juja Kibo in Gr3 Colin Stephen 2400m
She was then snapped up for just $27,000 by Dynamic Syndications from the Magic Millions Online September Sale.
Flying Bandit was knocked down for a modest $20,000 at the 2022 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
There's a chance they will be also joined by first emergency Sun ‘N' Sand, a $40,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase in 2022, as the Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones sweat on a start.
It's a small price to pay against a field of stayers from Ireland, France and Great Britain, including $2m Cups contender Vauban.
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Piggyback connections celebrate their Gr3 Colin Stephen win
"We are happy to fly the flag for the Aussies," Dynamic Syndications managing director Dean Watt said.
"There are not many Australian stallions that can compete because everyone brings them out (stayers) by the plane load from the Northern Hemisphere.
"Our industry is not catering for it, but the problem is, you are not going to find the best out of an Australian bred stayer until they're four and they’re best at five and six.
"The cost of production and holding costs are so prohibitive, that it's cheaper to go overseas and buy something that's up and going, that is already three or four."
The bargain buys of this year's The Metropolitan (clockwise from left): Piggyback, Sun ‘N' Sand and Flying Bandit.
Piggyback heads into The Metropolitan on the seven-day back-up after winning her way into contention with victory in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) last Saturday at Rosehill Gardens.
The chestnut mare is by Golden Rose winner Trapeze Artist with staying pedigree on her dam's side.
WOWEE as a broodmare
"Piggyback's mum WOWEE won a 2500m Group 3 race in Adelaide so that gave us confidence and she looked a stayer," Watt said.
PIGGYBACK as a yearling
“She looked like a greyhound as a yearling. She was long and lean and has a real European stayers’ physique about her.
TRAPEZE ARTIST - Sire
"The stallion Trapeze Artist is doing a good job, but the genetics are there for Piggyback.
"We think we are in this Metropolitan up to our eyeballs."