The William Reid Stakes is a Group 1 weight-for-age sprint race over 1200 metres, held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in autumn. Total prizemoney is $1 million. The race is named after an early committee member of the Moonee Valley Racing Club, William Reid, who was also an owner of several prominent horses in the early part of last century.
In recent times the William Reid Stakes has been won by many star sprinters, including Sunlight, Apache Cat, Miss Andretti and Black Caviar. The most famous run of wins in the race is when Manikato won it five times in a row from 1979 to 1983.
William Reid Stakes 2022: Trevor Lawson’s preview
The unbeaten Marabi dominates the market here, so let’s have a look at what we price we need… and whether there’s any value elsewhere.
Track The rail is in the true and there’s no rain coming, so it should be pretty good. Not expecting any real bias.
Speed There’s good pace here as you’d expect. Snapper and Marabi will go forward and Jonker will join them from out wide. The Astrologist, Generation and Kemalpasa will sit handy.
Runner-by-runner
Prices courtesy of TopSport, correct at time of publication.
MARABI [$1.65] is unbeaten in seven starts. She has good enough pace to lead or sit just outside the leader here, and she then has ability to kick off a solid tempo. She’s clearly the one to beat.
THE ASTROLOGIST [$14] was narrowly beaten in the Newmarket when on the right side of the track. He’s drawn gate 1 here and can probably box seat. Think he lacks the class however. Rough chance.
After finishing second in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap The Astrologist will be scratched from the Hareeba Stakes at Mornington on Saturday and head to the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at the Valley on Friday night.
The Astrologist will jump from gate one in the William Reid.
— Nick Quinn (@Quinny_1) March 23, 2022
THE INFERNO [SCRATCHED] was checked in the run when resuming in the Lightning. He gets home hard so the good tempo will suit. He’s got a chance at odds.
KEMALPASA [$15] went okay first-up with a win in Adelaide. He possibly gets caught wide here which is a concern. Rough chance for mine.
GENERATION [$16] was okay when winning the Group 3 Manfred Stakes first-up. He was beaten second-up in the Group 3 Zeditave, but the rider lacked a lot of awareness. He should be fully fit now third-up. His best run last prep was third-up this track and distance. Gets a good run on the map. A chance at odds.
SEPTEMBER RUN [$18] returned to somewhere near form last start when third in the Newmarket, though she was on right side of track. She’ll get a long way back here. Rough chance.
JONKER [$20] won the Manikato over this distance in Spring. He was well beaten first-up in the Oakleigh Plate however. He’s drawn wide and will have to do some work. Very rough claims.
Cliff Brown will be hoping that his star can get his Autumn Carnival back on track when he contests the G1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night. https://t.co/lbU3nZIYU1
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 23, 2022
STANDOUT [$26] is a fairly honest horse who hasn’t won for a while. He has a good bank of ratings. Gets an okay run on the map here. Rough chance.
MARINE ONE [$26] is racing honestly and ran well last start over 1100m in the Group 2 Rubiton. It’s a big step up here to Group 1 class at 1200m with a wide barrier. Rough chance.
TREKKING [$31] is second-up here. He wasn’t suited first up on a wet track from an inside barrier. He hasn’t won for a while but has a rough chance at odds.
ELECTRIC GIRL [$101] was disappointing last start when leading over 1400m, but the distance and the wet track make it a possible forgive run. Her previous couple of runs were okay. She can roll forward from the barrier here and is a rough chance at big odds.
GENERAL BEAU [$26], HALVORSEN [$81], ZOUZARELLA [$61] and SNAPPER [$41] are outclassed here.
Verdict
Obviously Marabi is the one and it’s a question of price. I’ve got her marked even money in my 85% market so that’s what I’ll be looking for – though you wouldn’t expect she gets anywhere near that unless there’s an issue with her. Interestingly if I wind my market out to 118% to match the bookies (looking on Wednesday afternoon), I have her at $1.45… so shorter than the bookies.
If we want to spec something at odds, I have Generation as a slight overlay and some small chance of causing a boilover.
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