Horse Racing

The William Reid Stakes, formerly known as the Australia Stakes, is one of the quality Group 1 races held at the esteemed Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne. Taking place in March each year, this 1200m sprint is conducted under weight-for-age conditions and offers prize money of $500,000.

Today the race is held as the feature race of the William Reid Stakes Day along with the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival

The 2012 William Reid Stakes will take place Friday March 23rd at Moonee Valley during the night race meeting.

This race should not be confused with the Group 2 Australia Stakes which is held at Moonee Valley in late January.

There are a number of excellent lead-up races held earlier in the Melbourne Autumn Carnival that serve as a good guide for you William Reid Stakes wagers. The Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) held at Flemington is one such trial race punters should keep an eye on. In the last few years both Apache Cat (2008) and Miss Andretti (2007) have claimed this Lightning Stakes / William Reid Stakes double. Other races include the Group 2 Australia Stakes (formerly the Carlyon Stakes), run over the same distance and conditions in late January, and the Group 3 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield in January.

William Reid Stakes History

The race is named after the renowned racehorse owner and banker William Reid. The race reached the peak of its prestige in 2005, and for two years was held as the second leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. It has now been replaced by The Age Classic.

First run in 1925, the William Reid Stakes was held over 6 furlongs until 1973 when Australia’s adoption of the metric system converted the distance to 1200m. Beginning as a Principal race, the William Reid Stakes reached group 2 status in 1980 and was finally elevated to its current Group 1 position in 1987. The race name was changed from the William Reid Stakes to the Australia Made Stakes in 1994 and then finally became known as the Australia Stakes from 1996 onwards. In 2010 the race name changed back to the William Reid Stakes.

A top quality field of sprinters compete in the William Reid Stakes each year and notable winners include Apace Cat (2008 & 2009), Hareeba (1995), Redelva (1991) and Zeditave (1989).

Recent William Reid Stakes Winners