A field of twelve sprinters will contest the 2016 running of the Group 1 $500,000 Mitchelton Wines William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Thursday night.
Lucky Hussler, above, has drawn barrier five in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.
Last year’s winner Lucky Hussler will lead the field out with Glen Boss in the saddle again and will jump from barrier five.
Trainer Darren Weir has freshened up the six year old with plenty of beach work after he ran second to Suavito in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13.
“He’s just been down at the beach since. We decided to try and win this race a second time and he’s going well,” Weir told the Herald Sun.
Weir will also saddle up Scarlet Billows who has drawn the inside gate.
Peter Moody will have his last Group 1 runners before he begins his six month cobalt related suspension and will be represented with last start Oakleigh Plate winner Flamberge and promising colt Kinglike.
Flamberge has drawn barrier two and stablemate Kinglike will be next to him in gate three.
Last start Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner The Quarterback will be trying to win back to back Group 1s for trainer Robbie Griffiths and has drawn midfield at barrier six with Craig Newitt to ride again.
Griffiths will also saddle up seven year old It Is Written who will jump from barrier nine with Steven Arnold to ride.
It Is Written is a seven times winner over the same course and distance as the William Reid Stakes but will find it much tougher than his last start third in the Listed $120,000 Simpson Construction Abell Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 18.
Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will only have one runner in the William Reid Stakes with Japonisme who has drawn awkwardly at barrier eleven with Hugh Bowman.
Japonisme has been around the minor prizemoney at his two recent outings with a third in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 20 followed by a fifth to The Quarterback in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 12.
The Godolphin Team will also only have the one starter in the William Reid Stakes with three year old Holler who will be ridden by James McDonald from gate seven.
Holler is a two times winner over this course and distance, including a win three starts back in the Group 2 $200,000 Jeep Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 23.
The Commands colt will be one of the main chances again in the William Reid Stakes after leading all of the way to take out the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 5.
The Lindsay Park Team of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig will have three runners, Fast ‘N’ Rocking (barrier 10), Churchill Dancer (barrier 4) and Gregers (barrier 12).
Team Hawkes will be represented with Headwater from barrier eight with Dwayne Dunn in the saddle.
William Reid Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Lucky Hussler, $4 Holler, $6 Japonisme, $8 Kinglike, $11 Flamberge, $18 The Quarterback, $17 Churchill Dancer, $21 Fast ‘N’ Rocking, $26 Gregers, $31 Headwater, $34 Scarlet Billows, $41 It Is Written.
