This weekend’s autumn carnival racing action kicks off tonight under the lights at Moonee Valley Racecourse with the 2015 William Reid Stakes, betting tips for the sprint showdown found below.

Angelic Light is the favourite and Races.com.au tip to win the 2015 William Reid Stakes in Melbourne tonight. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

There are 14 sprinters facing off in the weight-for-age $400,000 Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) this evening, the current favourite of which at Ladbrokes.com.au is the Robbie Griffiths-trained mare Angelic Light.

She’s at $5 to win first-up, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor last seen running fifth in Perth’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on November 22, and boasts an outstanding record over the track and distance (5-2-2-0).

Angelic Light’s biggest threat is another galloper that flies first-up, the Gary Portelli-trained Rebel Dane ($5.50).

A five-year-old son of California Dane, the smart stallion has won three from five first-up but hasn’t won a race since the 2013 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

His latest run over the 1200m at Moonee Valley was on October 24 last spring when fourth in the Groups 1 Mankiato Stakes (1200m) where he was under a half-length off the winner Lankan Rupee, Angelic Light also a graduate of that race when a nose away second.

So will the top two in William Reid Stakes betting run the quinella tonight, or is there value to be found further down the market?

1^st

#7 Angelic Light ($5)

While there are plenty of credible challenges in a genuine star-studded field, we think the favourite is going to be hard to run down first-up from the nice barrier four draw. She’s run top three in all four of her resuming runs previously and has ace records over the 1200m (9-3-3-1) and the track (7-3-2-1) to boot. She’s been over the distance here five times for two wins and two seconds including her nose second to Lankan Rupee in the Manikato two back. Her fifth in Perth last time out can be forgiven, she was at the end of the prep and travelled right across the country for the run. She’ll be fresh for this and flying.

2^nd

#11 Peron ($8)

Peter Moody has won two of the past four William Reid Stakes thanks to mighty mare Black Caviar (2011 and 2013) and is back with another smart female galloper looking for a third. Husson five-year-old Peron has the inside alley tonight, which has produced seven winners since 1983 making it the most successful barrier. She’s second up and has a great record two runs in (4-2-1-0) after a first-up second in a black-type at Flemington over 1000m. She’ll appreciate the extra metres with two wins and a second from her five previous 1200m runs, but does debut at the Valley so will need to handle the tight turns. The gate will help with that and she’s got the right trainer.

3^rd

#6 It Is Written ($31)

For value in the top three we like the look of It Is Written who has been all but forgotten in betting after running seventh in the Oakleigh Plate beaten just over four lengths last time out. He gets extra distance here and has his 28^th 1200m start shooting for his ninth win. Robbie Griffiths’ six-year-old can track along with his better fancied stablemate, favourite Angelic Light, and is far from drawn off the track with barrier eight. He’s had seven wins from 19 starts at the track so is well-equipped at Moonee Valley. All seven of those wins were over this distance too, so that’s a pretty imposing record. Two back he won the Listed Abell Stakes (1200m) here on the back of a Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) second also run at Moonee Valley. Way overs.

Whether you are backing or sacking our 2015 William Reid Stakes tips for tonight make sure you get the guaranteed best odds on the race by betting with Ladbrokes.com.au online now!

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change