Mark Walker’s brilliant Kiwi mare Imperatriz is odds-on favourite to successfully defend her title and take her Group 1 wins into double-figures at The Valley in Saturday’s 2024 William Reid Stakes.
The ultra-consistent I Am Invincible five-year-old lost few admirers last start when running second to Cylinder in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) when carrying the 58kg topweight down the Flemington straight.
She gets the chance to atone and returning to winning form back to weight-for-age at her pet Moonee Valley track this weekend chasing back-to-back victories in the Group 1 $1 million William Reid Stakes (1200m).
Imperatriz, a winner of over $6.2 million in prize money, is undefeated boasting a flawless four-from-four record at the notoriously tight Moonee Valley circuit.
Her first look at the track was in the William Reid last Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival which she won by a length.
Success again on Saturday will see her become the first two-time champion since Black Caviar (2011, 2013) and the first to do so on successive years since Apache Cat (2008-09).
The latest William Reid Stakes betting markets have her at a short quote of $1.85 and firming at Ladbrokes.com.au to do so from barrier 10 of 11 with Opie Bosson continuing associations.
The danger looking for another upset over Imperatriz is Godolphin’s surprise Newmarket Handicap winning three-year-old Cylinder drawn the rails and paying $4.60 to win.
Sunlight (2019) was the last runner to complete the Newmarket Handicap – William Reid Stakes double that Cylinder shoots for on Saturday following the Exceed And Excel colt’s emotional win at headquarters.
He is yet to race at Moonee Valley, but has a top record over the distance (6:3-1-0).
The only other hopeful currently at single-figure William Reid Stakes odds is last year’s runner-up and Moonee Valley specialist Bella Nipotina ($7).
Ciaron Maher’s six-year-old Pride Of Dubai mare has a strong affinity with the track (9:2-6-0) and is drawn well in gate three third-up.
She comes off the same two lead-ups as Imperatriz when fourth to her in the Black Caviar Lightning before a Newmarket fifth.
Maher has also accepted for fellow mare I Am Me who resumes here and has an imposing first-up record (4:3-0-1).
The now five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible was runner-up to Imperatriz in the spring’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at this track and trip beaten a big margin and was last seen running second to Magic Time in Caulfield’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clark Stakes (1400m).
She looked the goods in a recent Sydney trial winning by over two lengths and from gate two with Ben Melham aboard presents as potential value at $10.
The 2024 William Reid Stakes is scheduled to run as Moonee Valley Race 8 at 4:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.
2024 William Reid Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 62725×9573 | THE ASTROLOGIST | Leon & Troy Corstens | Declan Bates | 9 | 58.5kg | 104 | ||
2 | x9275x440x | THE INFERNO | Cliff Brown | Jake Noonan | 8 | 58.5kg | 101 | ||
3 | 631x117x11 | QUEMAN | Shane & Cassie Oxlade | Harry Coffey | 4 | 58.5kg | 105 | ||
4 | 17x244x271 | JOHNNY ROCKER | Nick Ryan | Rhys McLeod | 11 | 58.5kg | 75 | ||
5 | 21x1111x12 | IMPERATRIZ | Mark Walker | Opie Bosson | 10 | 56.5kg | 119 | ||
6 | 6x33315x45 | BELLA NIPOTINA | Ciaron Maher | John Allen | 3 | 56.5kg | 114 | ||
7 | 117x16122x | I AM ME | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham | 2 | 56.5kg | 110 | ||
8 | 8x27415x07 | QUEEN OF THE BALL | Michael Freedman | Billy Egan | 7 | 56.5kg | 96 | ||
9 | 3x24221x42 | HYPOTHETICAL | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Michael Dee | 6 | 56.5kg | 104 | ||
10 | 7x11350x61 | CYLINDER | James Cummings | Beau Mertens | 1 | 56kg | 113 | ||
11 | 1x233x31x8 | KING’S GAMBIT | Peter & Paul Snowden | Jamie Mott | 5 | 56kg | 95 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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