2026 William Reid Stakes Day Preview

KA YING CHEER chases a hat-trick in the first on Ladbrokes William Reid Day.

The former Hong Kong-trained galloper debuted in Australia last month to claim a nice win in Class 1 company at Pakenham, and he backed that up with another dominant victory in BM66 company last time.

This is harder, but he’s been kept up to the mark with a trial, and it looks a great opportunity for him to strike in metro company.

FLAMIN’ ROMANS is fit and looks well placed at Caulfield this week.

He needed his first few runs back this time to tune up, but Flamin’ Romans turned in a vastly improved performance in the Listed Torney Night Cup last time out, only just missing behind Bright Legend.

He’s in peak order this week, drops in class and is right at home over staying trips like this one.

CYCLOTRON takes improvement into the Valley Pearl.

Cyclotron has only made one appearance at the races so far, but after trialling up nicely, she worked home well to finish second behind a smart Chica Astuta over 1000m at Morphettville.

With natural improvement, I think she’s well placed in a race like this one.

GETTA GOOD FEELING has opened a clear and justifiable favourite in Alexandra Stakes betting.

The So You Think filly turned in some fine performances last year, winning races like the Edward Manifold and the Wakeful, while she returned to action to win the Inglis Sprint at Flemington at huge odds.

With natural improvement and getting out in trip, she’s going to take a power of beating here.

I’m going to select her as my winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with STRICTLY BUSINESS running into the first three and CLASSIC GEM running into the first four.

Same Race Multi selections:

• 2 Getta Good Feeling (Win)
• 1 Strictly Business (Top 3)
• 3 Classic Gem (Top 4)

KING ZEPHYR resumes in a winnable race on Ladbrokes William Reid Day.

The Hallowed Crown gelding has won six of ten starts since debuting, placing a further three times and finding form around some classy opposition in the process.

We haven’t seen him at the races since October, but he’s trialled up nicely, flies fresh and retains the services of regular hoop, Jordan Childs.

POINT BARROW is second up and drops noticeably in class into the Don Casboult Classic field.

The Blue Point filly has hardly put a hoof wrong since debuting and won four of six starts during 2025, including the Group 3 Red Roses during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

She was sent off a popular pick in Oakleigh Plate betting when resuming before ultimately finishing fifth, but with the benefit of that run under her belt, another recent trial and getting back down into Group 3 company, she’s my best bet on the program.

A drop back into fillies and mares’ company could be just the thing that TREASURETHE MOMENT needs to return to winning form.

She’s a multiple Group 1 winner and is never far away, and she was a consistent performer in some of Australia’s best races throughout her spring prep.

She returned to action this time to fill the minors in the Futurity, and with natural improvement for that run, and getting out to a mile in substantially weaker company, she can win this year’s Sunline Stakes.

JIMMYSSTAR resumes in the Ladbrokes William Reid and will prove typically hard to beat.

Jimmysstar won the Oakleigh Plate last autumn and progress to another victory in this race when it was contested at The Valley, while his spring preparation tossed up plenty more outstanding performances and results, including consecutive victories in the Russell Balding and the CF Orr Stakes.

He’s trialled up as well as ever, he absolutely flies first up and anything close to his best will almost certainly see him too good for this lot as well.

Another short-priced favourite goes around in the Alister Clark Stakes field, and I think that PLANET RED will also justify his quote.

He continued to improve with racing throughout the spring, culminating in a near miss in the Caulfield Guineas, while Planet Red has finished second to Observer in both the Autumn Stakes and the Australian Guineas back this time.

There’s no horse of that calibre engaged in this race, and getting out to the 2000m looks ideal at this point of Planet Red’s campaign.

Tough race to end the day on but I am going to have an each way play on JACKKNIFE on debut in Australia.

Jackknife has only made three appearances at the races so far, but after winning on debut at Epsom Downs back in April last year, he wasn’t disgraced in a couple of strong black type races.

He’s had the benefit of a couple of trials ahead of Saturday’s first start for Ciaron Maher and has winning claims under Mark Zahra.