Several horses are set to miss out on a start in the Group 1 $500,000 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night after twenty-five sprinters were in the original list of nominations.
Trainer Darren Weir has nominated multiple Group 1 winner Flamberge for the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
The final field for the William Reid Stakes will only comprise of fourteen runners with four emergencies to be named at acceptance time on Wednesday.
Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir has multiple Group 1 winner Flamberge, the equal highest rated sprinter in the field and the promising Hellbent nominated for the William Reid Stakes.
Golden Slipper winning trainer Gary Portelli has nominated Rebel Dane, who is equal top rated at 111 with Flamberge along with the Lindsay Park trained Sheidel.
Sheidel earned her high rating following her first up win in the Group 1 $500,000 The Resimax Group Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 25 and backed that up with a close up fourth to stablemate Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 11.
Other highly rated sprinters nominated for the Williams Reid Stakes are the Bryce Heys trained Spieth, Robbie Griffiths’ Group 1 winner The Quarterback and top three year old Star Turn from the Team Hawkes stable.
Star Turn has already raced against the older horses during the 2017 Autumn Carnival for a third to Terravista in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and a third to Redkirk Warrior in the Newmarket Handicap, both down the Flemington straight.
Team Hawkes has also nominated Kaepernick for the William Reid Stakes and the Fastnet Rock five year old is coming off a first up eighth to Sheidel in the Oakleigh Plate.
Three year old filly I Am A Star was back in the winner’s circle last start with a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 11 and trainer Shane Nichols has put in a nomination for the William Reid Stakes.
Spieth and Star Turn have been installed as the early equal favourites at $4.50 for the William Reid Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Sheidel at $8, Hellbent and Ilustrious Lad at $9 and I Am A Star and Rebel Dane at $11.
Early market order for the William Reid Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Spieth, Star Turn, $8 Sheidel, $9 Hellbent, Illustrious Lad, $11 I Am A Star, Rebel Dane, $13 Silent Sedition, $15 Bassett, Rock Magic, $17 Dal Cielo, Kuro, $19 Flamberge, Secret Agenda, $21 Hooked, The Quarterback, $26 Japonisme, Kaepernick, $31 Echo Effect, Sirbible, Sweet Sherry, Target In Sight, $41 Missrock, $51 Well Spring, $101 Sunday Escape.
