The William Reid Stakes is a Group 1 race held at the Moonee Valley Racecourse over 1200m. It is run under standard weight-for-age conditions and has a total prize money purse of $1m. There are a total of 14 high-quality sprinters accepted for this year’s sprint feature and will go head-to-head under the bright Valley lights, with the exception of Paulele who has already been withdrawn.
Looking at the market, Dabble has star Kiwi mare, Imperatriz, favourite at $3.50 off the back of her last start Canterbury Stakes effort. Jigsaw, who is looking for five wins in a row, is next best at $6.50 ahead of In The Congo and three-year-old, Benedetta, who are $7.00 and $8.00, respectively, and Bella Nipotina rounds out the runners in single digits, at $9.00.
However, we know with horse racing that anything can happen and The Valley can be a testing track for many. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2023 William Reid Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Masked Crusader (4) – $31
Jockey – Jye McNeil 58.5kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Got a mile back first up in the Oakleigh Plate and was never sighted. Drawn to land a bit closer here second up and is a Group 1 winner, in this race back in 2021, at his only go around The Valley. Can improve at odds but hasn’t donned the winners sash for some time now. Take on trust.
2. Paulele (14) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Damien Oliverl 58.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
N/A.
3. King Of Sparta (12) – $14
Jockey – John Allen 58.5kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
The 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes.
A serious Group 1 field presented in a not-so-serious way. #LoveTheValley pic.twitter.com/x4ttvKKzmd
— Moonee Valley Racing Club (@TheValley) March 23, 2023
Recorded race-fastest late sectionals in the Oakleigh Plate last start when flashing home along the inside into fourth placing. Wins in Queensland prior were excellent. Another who will need luck from the gate but is a definite winning chance if things fall into place.
4. A Case Of You (10) – $17
Jockey – Mark Zahra 58.5kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Former Irish sprinter who resumes here for the new yard. His latest win came this time last year in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan. Recent jump outs have been solid and he gets blinkers and a tongue tie on for the first time. Has the ability to measure up and a market watch is advised.
5. In The Congo (1) – $7.00
Jockey – Tim Clark 58.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Talented entire who resumes here off the back of some strong trial form. Unplaced at his only go here at The Valley but has form around some of the country’s best and should be ready to fire off the back of three trials. Will most likely be stamped urgent from the inside gate and will be a tough nut to crack.
6.Front Page (8) – $21
Jockey – Patrick Moloney 58.5kg
Trainer – Geoff Duryea
Rode the speed first up in the Newmarket and wasn’t disgraced, finishing under three lengths from the winner, In Secret. Historically not as lethal second up but will be sent forward from the barriers and can give plenty of cheek in this field. Not the worst.
7. Jigsaw (5) – $6.50
Jockey – Daniel Moor 58.5kg
Trainer – Cindy Alderson
Speedy gelding who is looking for his fifth win in a row after bolting in at Group 2 level, here at this track/ distance, at his latest outing. Will land straight on the bunny again from the good draw and deserves a crack at Group 1 WFA now. This is by far his biggest test to date, but winning form is good form, and he should give backers a bold sight on speed.
This is going to be quick 🔥
Who are you backing in the G1 William Reid Stakes? ✍ pic.twitter.com/7OClaKKODC
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 22, 2023
8. Bella Nipotina (13) – $9.00
Jockey – Ben Melham 56.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Ran super first up in the Lightning before a below par effort in the Newmarket last time out. Returns to The Valley now, where she’s a Group 1 winner, and I’ve been around long enough to know you should always forgive a good horse for one bad run. Worth another chance despite the tricky draw.
9. Roch ‘N’ Horse (9) – $41
Jockey – Jamie Mott 56.5kg
Trainer – Michael Moroney
Got to the line ok first up in the Oakleigh Plate before failing to let down last start in the Newmarket. Not racing as well as she was last prep but should get things run to suit here and is capable of improving third up at big odds.
10. September Run (6) – $23
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Winner of this race last year who was just fair last start in the Newmarket Handicap. Run prior in the Lightning was good. She’s drawn to get a soft run behind the speed here and gets the services of Nash Rawiller which is a tick. Hard to have any confidence after the latest effort but could bob up at odds in this.
11. Imperatriz (7) – $3.50F
Jockey – Opie Bosson 56.5kg
Trainer – Mark Walker
She’s the best horse in New Zealand right now, and on Friday night IMPERATRIZ will be looking to add an Australian Group 1 to her total tally of four!
She’s favourite for the @3_Point_Motors William Reid Stakes and star hoop Opie Bosson rides for @TeAkauRacing 🍊#LoveTheValley pic.twitter.com/qmnqRZKeto
— Moonee Valley Racing Club (@TheValley) March 22, 2023
Star Kiwi mare who shot away last start at Randwick, only to be run down in the shadows of the post by Artorius. Form prior across the ditch was outstanding. Another who is drawn to get a nice run in transit and Opie Bosson crosses the Tasman for the ride. Looks very hard to beat.
12. Chain Of Lightning (3) – $34
Jockey – Luke Nolen 56.5kg
Trainer – Peter G Moody
Unlucky not to win the Rubiton first up at Sandown before a close up eighth in the Oakleigh Plate. Not totally disgraced last start in the Newmarket and is drawn well here. Will find this a tough assignment once again but her form is better than the price suggests.
13. Babylon Berlin (2) – $13
Jockey – Blake Shinn 56.5kg
Trainer – Ben Foote
Second of the Kiwi mares who was sent around Winx-odds last start and won accordingly at Te Rapa. She was no match for Imperatriz prior to that, but did run her to a neck on New Year’s Day. Will land a good spot from the low draw and can figure in the finish if the breaks go her way.
14. Benedetta (11) – $8.00
Jockey – Daniel Stackhouse 54kg
Trainer – Jason Warren
Lone three year old of the field who was outstanding when winning at Flemington last start. Thrown in the deep end here at just start number six, but is a deserved starter and looks a live winning hope off the back of her most recent effort.
Final Word
A cracking line-up of sprinters will greet the starter here in what looks a very competitive race. As expected in a six furlong Group 1, the early speed looks strong and all runners should get their chance, providing there is no distinct track bias. Last year’s winner, September Run, lines up to defend her title and the Kiwis have what looks to be a strong hand in the race.
Top Tip: 11. Imperatriz – looked home last start in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes only to be run down by Artorius late, who has since finished close up behind the champ, Anamoe. Her form prior in New Zealand was faultless and she should enjoy a gun run from the middle gate here.
Top Tip
11. Imperatriz
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Biggest Danger: 7. Jigsaw – is looking for five wins on the trot here, after destroying his rivals in the Australia Stakes last start at this track/ distance. He’ll put himself on the speed and be hard to run down.
Biggest Danger
7. Jigsaw
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Best Value/ Roughie: 3. King Of Sparta & 9. Roch ‘N’ Horse – King of Sparta ran the best closing splits in the Oakleigh Plate last start, off the back of two excellent wins in the sunshine state. Will appreciate a solid tempo and should be rattling home late, whilst Roch ‘N’ Horse should be ready to fire third up and maps well with plenty of speed up front.
Best Value/ Roughie
3. King Of Sparta & 9. Roch ‘N’ Horse
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If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our William Reid Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
