A slick gallop by Angelic Light early in the week has boosted the confidence of trainer Robbie Griffiths heading into the Group 1 $400,000 Brown Baldwin William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Angelic Light gets her chance to record her maiden G1 win in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Griffiths knows that Angelic Light isn’t far off winning her maiden Group 1 trophy and is sending the Holy Roman Emperor mare into the race in top order and is expecting a first class performance.
On Monday Angelic Light galloped over 1000m on the course proper at Cranbourne, running home the final 600m of the gallop in 36 seconds and Griffiths was very happy with the hit out.
“She’s had two unofficial trials and galloped well on the course proper on Monday morning over 1000 metres, running the last 600 metres in 36 seconds. She was nice and strong,” Griffiths told racing .com.
“I’m delighted with her at the moment.”
Damien Oliver takes the ride again and was aboard when Angelic Light was nosed out by Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The pair teamed up again in Perth in the Group 1 $750,000 Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot at the end of Spring but could only manage to fifth to the local sprinter Magnifisio.
Angelic Light also recorded a Group 1 second when ridden by Ryan Maloney when second to Platelet in the 2013 Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Classic (Registered as Robert Sangster Stakes) (1200m) at Morphettville.
The five year old mare is a winner twice over the William Reid Stakes course and distance and Oliver is certain to give her a sweet run from barrier four.
“She’s drawn good, has a good jockey on board and she loves the track,” Griffiths said.
“It’s a tough race, but I’m very happy with her and think she’ll run well.”
Bookmakers at Ladbrokes.com.au have Angelic Light as the $5 favourite for the William Reid Stakes and Griffiths will also saddle up $26 chance It Is Written.
It Is Written is also a Moonee Valley specialist with seven wins over this course and distance and Griffiths is not ruling out an upset by the six year old.
“His work last start at Caulfield (in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate) was great and he always runs two to three lengths better at Moonee Valley,” Griffiths said.
“He’s underrated; you can never under-estimate him at Moonee Valley.
“He also worked beautiful on Monday morning on the course-proper and ran the last 400 metres, over 1000 metres, in 24 seconds.
“He’s also ticking all the boxes.”
It Is Written scored two runs back in the Listed $120,000 Adapt Australia Abell Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on February 6 before running seventh to Shamal Wind in the Group 1 $400,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28.
William Reid Stakes market order: $5 Angelic Light, $5.50 Rebel Dane, $6 Vain Queen, $7 Earthquake, $7.50 Peron, $10 Lucky Hussler, $13 Famous Seamus, $21 Griante, Galaxy Pegasus, Vezalay, $26 Fontelina, It Is Written, $31 Girl Guide, $34 Bel Sprinter.
