The Terri Rae-trained 5yr-old was kept out of trouble at the back of the field by Alysha Collett before unwinding in the straight to claim the listed 2500m feature.
Aspen Lass was placed in her two previous runs, at Timaru and Riccarton, where she was runner-up in the listed Spring Classic (2000m), striking trouble in the running both times.
"She’s been one of the unluckiest horses you would come across," stable representative Ryan Thistoll said.
However, that changed in the Metropolitan in which she faced only six rivals.
"She got back and was really relaxed and she got home easily over the top of them," Collett said.
"She’s got a good mentality and was off the bit all the way."
Aspen Lass accounted for the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards’ stablemates, Imperium and Grazia, who, unlike her, will contest the 3200m New Zealand Cup this Saturday. Enzo’s Lad won the listed Pegasus Stakes for Yaldhurst trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman. They have taken a patient approach with the 5yr-old and it paid off with his career-best win.
"In the autumn we were thinking that he would be a lovely spring horse so we put him away," Matthew Pitman said.
"We’ve always had a high opinion of him and he’s obviously come up really well this time."
Enzo’s Lad was one of four winners on the first day of the New Zealand Cup carnival for jockey Chris Johnson.
He got Savvy Coup, another Pitman runner, up in race 3, a 1400m maiden, then guided Starvoia, who had been off the scene through injury since March, to victory in race 4 for Balcairn trainers John and Karen Parsons.
Johnson wrapped up his day by winning on the Brian Court-trained Director in the last, a rating 65 1600m race.
— Jonny Turner, additional reporting NZ Racing Desk.
