2025 William Reid Stakes Day Preview

Autumn Racing at The Valley concludes with an enormous William Reid Stakes Day program that features 11 races!

You can find a full list of Moonee Valley best bets below, headlined by my Group 1 William Reid Stakes tips, for which I think the favourite, Jimmysstar, will be very difficult to beat.

The rail will be left in the true position around the entire course and the track is rated in the Soft (5) range at publish – read on for William Reid Stakes Day tips!

I thought that Bur Dubai was far better at Flemington second-up and a race like this one looks within his abilities.

Bur Dubai failed to beat a runner home at Caulfield on debut in Australia last month but enjoyed plenty of improvement into a near miss behind Revelare last time out.

Fitter third-up and out to the 2500m, this looks a perfect race for him.

2 Units Bur Dubai

All nine horses in this year’s Valley Pearl are maidens and I’ve put Pure Passion on top.

Pure Passion debuted with a fine performance to finish second out at Ballarat in February, while she was good through the line to fill the minors behind Military Tycoon in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes last time out.

Fitter third-up, something like this looks a winnable race for her.

1 Unit Pure Passion

There’s a case to be made for a few of them in this sprint and I’ve landed on Valley specialist, Fission.

Fission has been racing in good form here again this time in, and won a BM78 contest here two bac before finishing on the placegetters’ heels at his latest.

He has a fitness edge over several key rivals this week and we know he’ll love the conditions.

1 Unit Fission

Porter arrives back in Melbourne in winning form.

The So You Think gelding won consecutive races at Sale and Sandown back in January, but after finishing down the order in BM84 company at Flemington, he was floated to Adelaide and recorded an eye-catching win in BM86 company.

He’s hard fit this week, 1500m suits and something like this looks ideal at this point of his preparation.

2 Units Porter

I’m going to give Ziryab one last chance on 2025 William Reid Stakes Day.

Ziryab recorded consecutive wins on each side of a summer freshen-up, but after getting every chance at his two most recent appearances at Flemington, he’s finished outside of the placings.

I like that he’s been back to the trials since his latest run behind Verdad, and he does look to be a horse crying out for a longer trip, which he gets this week.

1 Unit Ziryab

Shanwah looks to be a pretty clear standout top pick in this year’s Alister Clark Stakes field.

Shanwah finished midfield in a Warrnambool maiden back in December and hasn’t taken a backwards step, winning each of his three subsequent starts impressively, including the Group 2 Autumn Classic last month.

He’s four weeks between starts but has been kept up to the mark with a trial, and this race looks well within his means again.

4 Units Shanwah

Happy to give Too Darn Lizzie another chance third-up from a spell.

Too Darn Lizzie has been a good horse for the Waterhouse & Bott yard since debuting and won a Group 2 race in the spring before ending her prep third in Group 1 company.

She clearly needed her first run back when third behind star on the rise, Treasurethe Moment in the Angus Armanasco Stakes last month, while she was only denied by the same horse, but by a smaller margin, last time out.

Fitter third-up, out to a mile and without a rival of that calibre engaged, this looks his opportunity to strike.

3 Units Too Darn Lizze

A talented field of mares will contest this year’s Sunline Stakes including Quintessa, who I have out on top.

Quintessa returned to action with only a fair effort in the Bellmaine Stakes at Sandown early last month, but stripped fitter and enjoy good improvement into a credible third placing in the Mannerism Stakes last time out.

She’s drawn to receive a lovely run at level weights this week and she’s a horse that will relish getting out to the mile.

2 Units Quintessa

This looms as a typically open edition of the William Reid Stakes with several key winning chances engaged, but I’ve found it impossible to look past the early favourite, Jimmysstar.

Jimmysstar has always hinted a Group 1 ability and picked off plenty of nice races through the first few preps of his career, without recording a maiden win at the highest level.

Sent off a $9 chance in the Oakleigh Plate when resuming this time, the Per Incanto gelding simply could not have been more impressive when mustering a lightning turn of foot to run on from the tail of the field and win easily.

This is the next logical target for an Oakleigh Plate winner, and I think he’ll take beating again.

3 Units Jimmysstar

Just Like Gaby gets her chance in black type company this week, and I thought this year’s Don Casboult Stakes looked a perfect race for her.

Just Like Gaby was only denied by the talented Documentary in maiden company here when resuming, but she has since recorded consecutive and dominant victories here as well.

She steps out this week in peak order and looks to have picked up the love of The Valley that her mother, Loving Gaby, most certainly possessed.

1 Unit E/W Just Like Gaby

There are some talented horses engaged in this race including the unbeaten Mytemptation, but I’m going to have something small on another Valley specialist, Extratwo.

Extratwo clearly needed her first run back behind Bossy Nic to dust off the cobwebs, but I thought she was far better when fourth in the Abell Stakes here last time out.

Fitter third-up, she can lob up near the speed and make her own luck.

1 Unit Extratwo