Sam Pritchard-Gordon has a strong reference point for his first Group One assault on Saturday's Metropolitan Handicap with Buxted.

The Victorian-based horseman worked for Lee Freedman for a time and travelled to Sydney with English import Speed Gifted when he won the Metropolitan for Freedman three years ago.

Now a trainer in his own right, Pritchard-Gordon will saddle up Buxted in Saturday's 2400m Randwick feature.

Also an English import, Buxted will be Pritchard-Gordon's first Sydney starter and his maiden Group One runner.

Although a seven-year-old, Buxted has only raced 12 times and his trainer says his best attributes are his stamina and willingness to fight.

"He's very genuine. He enjoys a fight," Pritchard-Gordon said.

"He doesn't have the brilliance of a horse like Speed Gifted, but if it came down to a knuckle-dusting fight with a Glencadam Gold or a Lamasery then I'd like to think he has his chance."

Buxted has raced three times in Australia finishing third over 2040m at his local debut before an encouraging fifth to the promising Excluded over 2000m.

He showed his staying and fighting qualities when he beat Metropolitan rival Fictional Account over 2500m at Moonee Valley last month.

Craig Newitt was aboard that day and made his run a long way from home but Buxted showed his mettle to stick to his task.

Pritchard-Gordon said the gelding had taken no harm from the tough run and if anything, it had switched him on even more.

"He's thrived on it actually. It was an unsuitable track, Moonee Valley, for a big 550 kilo horse but he's come through it very well indeed," he said.

"He's still learning the game but he's got a big set of lungs and a big heart. I just wish his legs moved a little bit faster at times."

While Buxted's Australian career has been restricted to Melbourne, he does have experience racing in the Sydney direction.

"He won a stakes race going right-handed at his first start (in England)," Pritchard-Gordon said.

"The biggest problem is I'd like him to step cleanly and not get too far back."

Buxted has drawn barrier 10 and will be ridden for the first time by Brenton Avdulla.

Meanwhile, 2007 Melbourne Cup winner and Metropolitan topweight Efficient won't be at Randwick on Saturday after suffering a recurrence of an old injury.

Nick Williams, racing manager for his father Lloyd Williams, confirmed on Thursday the star stayer had been retired.

The Williams-owned Midas Touch has also been scratched from the Metropolitan leaving favourite Lamasery as the 54.5kg topweight.