The 2014 William Reid Stakes final field has been released; with ten talented sprinters set to contest the Group 1 event that will take place at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Samaready produced the best performance of her career when she won the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Samaready will jump from barrier one in the William Reid Stakes on Friday and connections are hoping that she can return to her best form after finishing a disappointing sixth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.
The daughter of More Than Ready was the best backed runner in the lead-up to the Newmarket Handicap, but failed to show her usual acceleration and finished more than five lengths behind stablemate Lankan Rupee.
One of the horses that stormed past Samaready in the final stages of the Newmarket Handicap was consistent sprinter Spirit Of Boom, who finished second behind Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 event.
Spirit Of Boom (barrier eight) started his autumn preparation with a second place finish in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 22 and may never have a better opportunity to record his maiden win at Group 1 level.
Also backing up from the Newmarket Handicap will be Black Caviar Lightning Stakes runner-up Shamexpress (barrier seven), Anthony Cummings-trained Fontelina (barrier six) and talented gelding Unpretentious (barrier three).
Arguably the most interesting runners in the 2014 William Reid Stakes field are fillies Gregers and Thump, who will both be making their weight-for-age debuts in the Group 1 event on Friday night.
Gregers (barrier nine) returned to the races with an impressive fourth behind Lankan Rupee in the Oakleigh Plate and worked home strongly to finish second behind Anatina in the Listed MSS Security Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on March 1.
The daughter of Commands has a strong record at Moonee Valley, scoring three wins from four starts at the unique track, and remains a chance of heading to Sydney to contest the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 12.
Thump failed to impress when seventh behind Sweet Idea first-up in the Group 2 Light Finger Stakes (1200m), but returned to her best form with an impressive win over a strong field in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 8.
The Red Ransom filly was included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, but trainer Kris Lees opted to give her a chance against some of the leading sprinters in Australia.
Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner (barrier ten), last start winner It Is Written (barrier two) and Shawn Mathrick-trained Gig (barrier five) round out the 2014 William Reid Stakes final field.
