Emerging Group 1 sprinter Spieth is not among the final acceptors in the field for the Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Spieth, above, is not in the final field for the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Spieth was among the nominations for the Group 1 weight for age sprint but trainer Bryce Heys is happy to wait for another day to produce the promising four year old, leaving thirteen horses to contest the William Reid Stakes.

“He worked on Tuesday and it was a nice piece of work but I would like to give him another hit-out before we go to the races,” Heys told racing.com.

“Given we didn’t get the result in the Newmarket, I need to make sure he is right up to the mark the next time he competes.”

Spieth recorded his second close finish at Group 1 level when runner up to Terravista in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 18 but then missed a place when ninth to Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 11.

Heys is thinking of keeping Spieth for the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 1, but if the wet weather continues to plague the Sydney Autumn Carnival, the Warwick Farm trainer said that he could by pass ‘The Championships’ and head to Brisbane for their Winter Carnival.

“I wouldn’t be keen to run him in the TJ on a heavy track,” Heys said.

“The race looks suitable, weight-for-age, 1200m and at Randwick.

“But I don’t want to race him on heavy ground so we will just see what the weather does.”

“He would have to go to the Doomben 100000.”

The Group 1 $750,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 has been reduced from 1350m to 1200m this year and will be run at Doomben on May 13.

Star Turn is the only three year old in the William Reid Stakes and the Team Hawkes trained colt will jump from barrier three in the thirteen horse field with Dwayne Dunn in the saddle.

The Star Witness colt has already beaten the older sprinters during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival with a win in the Group 2 $400,000 Mitsubishi Electric Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Star Turn has also performed well in the Autumn Carnival against the older brigade with two thirds at Flemington in the Black Caviar Lightning and in the Newmarket Handicap.

Golden Slipper winning trainer Gary Portelli will be chasing another Group 1 win the space of a week with his grand old sprinter Rebel Dane drawing midfield at barrier seven in the William Reid Stakes.

Melbourne jockey Ben Melham combined with Portelli when he drove She Will Reign to an emphatic victory in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday and will keep his association with Rebel Dane after they teamed up to win the Group 1 $1m Manikato Stakes during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival over the same course and distance as the William Reid Stakes.

Oakleigh Plate winner Sheidel has drawn barrier nine in the William Reid Stakes with Blake Shinn in the saddle while the Joe Pride trained Kuro will jump from the outside gate with Corey Brown taking over from the suspended Josh Parr.

Silent Sedition has returned to Melbourne after running second to Heavens Above in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 11 and has drawn barrier ten for Katelyn Mallyon.

The Field for the 2017 William Reid Stakes