Group One racing returns to Moonee Valley this weekend with the William Reid Stakes set to headline a terrific ten race card.
The 1200m feature sprint is run under weight for age conditions and carries a $1m prize pool.
Notable winners include Manikato, who famously won the race on five occasions, Zedative, Vo Rogue, Apache Cat and more recently Black Caviar.
Imperatriz was victorious in last year’s edition and she’s back to defend her crown.
The rail will be in the true position and the track is currently rated a good 4.
Our Ladbrokes preview can be found below.
Race 1 - 12:05pm AEDT
ANDY WARR MEMORIAL HANDICAP BM84 (2040 METRES)
Up And Under will have taken plenty of benefit from his two Australian starts and I think we’ll see a much improved performance from him here at his third run in.
After beginning his career in Ireland, where he recorded his maiden win and was the runner up at Group level on two occasions, the French bred gelding has certainly proved himself over this trip.
He settled at the tail last time over 2000m and made a charge down the outside but just looked to peak on his run.
He strips fitter and will be afforded every chance under John Allen, who goes onboard for Chris Waller.
1 unit – UP AND UNDER
Race 2 - 12:35pm AEDT
XTREME FREIGHT VALLEY PEARL 2YO LISTED(1200 METRES)
Growing Empire produced a solid effort on debut over 1100m on the Kensington.
Whilst he was denied in the photo finish, he fought strongly to the line to chase the very smart Chateau Miraval and put up a 1.6 length margin back to third, before veering sideways and crashing through the outside fence.
Thankfully no harm was done to either horse to rider and the Zoustar colt has since impressed in two 800m trials.
Ciaron Maher has applied to blinkers to make him focus and they look to have had the desired effect as he was sporting them in his most recent trial, where he really let down strongly and attacked the line.
The 1200m looks ideal and he gets the advantage of the inside draw under Ethan Brown.
1 unit – GROWING EMPIRE
Race 3 - 1:05pm AEDT
ASCEND SALES TROPHIES HANDICAP BM78 (2500 METRES)
Angel Of Light has been racing well and looks suited here up to 2500m.
She didn’t have the best of luck three runs back over 1800m and then at her following outing, just kept working to the line over the 2000m after settling at the tail.
A daughter of Adelaide, she looked to relish the rise to the mile and a half last time, as she just kept grinding away and whilst she couldn’t quite reel in the winner, she had the rest covered.
She will need a touch of luck from the draw but gets in nicely with 54kgs and she’s hard fit.
Beau Mertens will do the steering for team Hawkes.
1 unit – ANGEL OF LIGHT
Race 4 - 1:40pm AEDT
CASPERS PIES & PASTRIES HANDICAP BM84 (1500 METRES)
For Valour wasn’t beaten far when resuming over 1200m at Flemington.
He was never going to be suited over the shorter trip and just felt the pinch late but he will have taken plenty of improvement from it.
It has been over a year since the Zoustar gelding last returned to the winner’s stall but he was performing well last campaign in stronger races and the form around him is solid.
He’s won four from five over this trip and from the good draw, he’ll roll forward and may take some catching.
1 unit E/W – FOR VALOUR
Race 5 - 2:15pm AEDT
BMD GROUP SUNLINE STAKES F&M GROUP 2 (1600 METRES)
Wishlor Lass looked to have her chance last start in the Group 3 Tressady Stakes but was found to be lame in the off hind and with a laceration to her heel.
Given that, the fact that she was beaten only 1.65 lengths holds plenty of merit.
Unbeaten in two second up appearances, she will have taken benefit from that run and the rise to the mile in the Sunline Stakes field looks ideal.
A talented mare, she showed her class in the Spring with three successive victories, jumping from a BM70 to take out the Group 3 Ladies’ Day Vase and Group 3 Tesio Stakes, which was over this course and distance.
Ben Melham goes onboard for the first time.
1 unit – WISHLOR LASS
Race 6 - 2:55pm AEDT
DYNAMIC PRINT GROUP ALEXANDRA STAKES 3YO FILLIES GROUP 3 (1600 METRES)
Mollyknickers was unlucky not to have taken out the Kewney Stakes last start.
Travelling midfield along the rail, her stablemate, and subsequent winner Autumn Angel, raced up alongside her to take the gap as it appeared and Mollyknickers was left to switch back across heels, losing ground to get to the outside where she charged late to go down by a long neck.
A highly talented filly, she’s performed well in all seven starts but has been unlucky on a few occasions.
She can be slow away but does possess a brilliant turn of foot and from the good draw, if she can find a position early and has some luck in running, she should prove very hard to beat.
Ben Melham retains the ride for the Moody / Coleman partnership.
1 unit – MOLLYKNICKERS
Race 7 - 3:35pm AEDT
DCE ALISTER CLARKE STAKES 3YO SW GROUP 2 (2400 METRES)
Quintessa comes off an eye catching performance in the Australian Guineas.
Taken back after the jump, she found cover but was always wide and made up plenty of ground in the straight to finish fourth.
Whilst she’s yet to step out past the mile, the daughter of Shamus Award is bred to stay and the way she found the line certainly suggests she’ll relish getting out to this trip in the Alister Clark Stakes.
Already a Group One winner, having taken out the Levin Classic in her homeland back in January, she gets in beautifully at the set weights.
Opie Bosson is unbeaten in three outings aboard the filly including that Group One victory and he’ll reunite with her here.
1 unit – QUINTESSA
Race 8 - 4:15pm AEDT
POINT MOTORS WILLIAM REID STAKES GROUP 1 WFA (1200 METRES)
Imperatriz returns to the Valley looking to defend her title.
The star mare proved too good in last years’ edition, with that victory kick starting a winning streak which only came to an end last start in the Newmarket Handicap, where she was denied by Cylinder who had a 6.5kg weight pull.
Back to WFA conditions and around the Valley, where she remains unbeaten, I think she can bounce back.
The five year old was also found to have pulled up with EIPH which was no real surprise considering the searing heat that day and as most Kiwi’s, she’ll appreciate the cooler conditions on this occasion.
Her record speaks for itself, from 25 starts she’s recorded 18 wins, with 9 of those at Group One level.
The only concern is the barrier, but she’s proven herself to be very adaptable.
We’ve seen her lead but she can go back as she also possesses a brilliant turn of foot and under the guidance of Opie Bosson, I’m sure she’ll be afforded every chance.
2 units – IMPERATRIZ
Race 9 - 4:55pm AEDT
PKF DON CASBOULT CLASSIC 3YO FILLIES GROUP 3 (1200 METRES)
Inhibitions resumed with a very encouraging effort down the Flemington straight earlier this month.
The Godolphin filly found herself out her own in the middle, in the early part as the field split in two but she really powered home late to go down by a head.
Fitter for that run, she’ll appreciate the slight rise in trip in the race formerly known as the Typhoon Tracy Stakes, and she does race particularly well here at the Valley.
The most experienced filly in the race, having had the thirteen starts, she’s very honest and the team looks to have her back in top order.
Barrier six should see her enjoy the right run under Ben Melham, who will don the royal blue silks.
1 unit – INHIBITIONS
Race 10 - 5:35pm AEDT
LADBROKE IT! HANDICAP BM84 (1200 METRES)
Grand Impact returns to the races after almost seventeen months off the scene.
The NZ bred entire kicked off his career in fine style, recording three successive wins, including a stakes victory in the Group Three Blue Sapphire Stakes.
He then tackled the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes where he wasn’t disgraced.
The son of Satono Aladdin has had the a few issues, hence the long break but the team look to have him back in top order as he comes off three very pleasing jump outs.
He gets a good draw, I think he’ll be suited around the Valley and Ben Melham who is unbeaten in two goes aboard the four year old, will again do the steering.
1 unit – GRAND IMPACT