Saturday's Metropolitan at Randwick is shaping as Sydney's version of the United Nations.

In a reflection of just how much the make-up of the local staying ranks has changed, eight of the 14 runners are European imports while another two are from New Zealand.

The Europeans hail from five different countries - Ireland, Germany, Italy, France and Great Britain.

With Peal Of Bells an early scratching, it leaves just four Australian-bred horses and that quartet rank as the outsiders of the field with Ironstein highest in commission at $23.

Credited with popularising the trend of buying overseas stayers to race in Australia, Chris Waller will be represented in the Metropolitan by Moriarty (Ireland), I'm Imposing (Great Britain) and Lucripetous (New Zealand).

Moriarty has been specifically geared towards the 2400m feature and his lead-up form is impressive.

Two starts ago he finished fourth to Hawkspur over an unsuitable 1600m before appreciating the step up to 2000m to claim the Group Two Hill Stakes last start.

Waller has guided Moriarty's Australian career patiently, using one grade of race as a springboard to the next.

So far, Moriarty has coped with each raising of the bar and Waller is banking on him doing it again when he goes to Group One level for the first time in the Metropolitan.

"That's what we're hoping. He's been a pretty good Listed and lower Group-winning horse and he's won quite a few races in the past 12 months which shows he's got that X-factor," Waller said.

"It's the race he's been set for."

Lucripetous also comes to the Metropolitan in good form.

He followed consecutive wins in benchmark races with a narrow second to Winning Glory in the Group Three Newcastle Cup, charging to the line from last.

I'm Imposing is backing up from a second to Julienas in the Colin Stephen Quality last Saturday, an effort which secured him a Metropolitan start.

"I'm Imposing is coming back from a long lay-off and his last start, albeit only on Saturday, was a very good run," Waller said.

"You can build a case for each horse but it's hard to go past Moriarty whose been set for the race and won a semi-final going into it. He's the form horse from mine."

Punters agree, with Moriarty on the second line of betting at $4.40 behind the David Vandyke-trained favourite Prince Cheri.

Julienas is the only other runner under double figures at $7.50 with I'm Imposing and Lucripetous rated $17 chances.