2017 William Reid Stakes betting tips and form, Friday March 24
THE Group 1 $500,000 William Reid Stakes is one of Moonee Valley’s feature races and it runs this Friday night.
The feature sprint is always a popular betting race and we have sorted through the form to find our best tips for not only the William Reid Stakes, but for every under card race which includes the Inglis 55 Second Challenge and the Sunline Stakes.
It’s going to be a great night of action so sign up with Ladbrokes.com.au for its odds boost promotion which will apply for the feature races on the night.
Race 1 – Simpson Construction Handicap (2040m)
Mightiest is only a three-time winner from 29 starts, but it comes into this with back-to-back placings. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has form at The Valley and is a past winner over this distance, so consider as a winning hope at each way odds.
Typhoon Monaco has plenty of potential and it wasn’t far behind a nice type last start. The Robert Smerdon-trained mare has already won this campaign at Pakenham and its subsequent efforts have been solid. There’s no denying its ability and it could have found a winnable race at this level.
Big John Cannon is a three-year-old colt which broke maiden grades two starts back. The son of High Chaparral will appreciate the rise in distance and it showed some ability when finishing third behind Archives in a wet Anchor Stakes on this track in October. Capable of winning this based on that form.
Race 1 tip: Big John Cannon to place at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Ascend Sales St Albans Stakes (1200m)
Muraaqeb looked the goods when winning on debut at Moonee Valley and it wasn’t far behind a nice type last start. The Lindsay Park-trained colt won by 1.25 lengths here before running third behind Trapeze Artist in the Black Opal Stakes at Canberra. This isn’t any harder and it gets the inside draw to work with.
Coruscate won stylishly on debut before taking on some slick types. The John O’Shea-trained colt finished second in the Skyline Stakes at Randwick before running third in the Pago Pago behind Single Bullet. That’s Golden Slipper form and it won’t have to improve its form to take this out. We’re expecting bookmakers to have it competitive in the betting.
Showtime is another strong type from Sydney which placed behind She Will Reign two starts back. The Hawkes-trained colt ran third in the Silver Slipper which is cracking form for this and its subsequent run came behind Gunnison in the Todman Stakes. This is a tough field and it’s a maiden runner, but consider.
Race 2 tip: Coruscate to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 3 – PKF Plate (1200m)
Matty ruined its perfect form line last start when finishing 14th in the Moomba Plate, but it looks to have enough ability to overcome that effort. The Ellerton/Zahra-trained gelding went three-from-three to begin its career, which included a win on this track, so consider as a winning hope.
Ken’s Dream was well-supported last start when fresh up and the same will continue for this. The Darren Weir-trained colt finished second behind race-rival Falcool, but it could turn the tables second up where it won its only start prior. Drawn awkwardly, but it has plenty of class.
Falcool created a big impression when scoring the upset at odds of $14 last start. The Aaron Purcell-trained gelding won the Moomba Plate against a similar field and there’s no reason why it couldn’t repeat the dose. It does rise in weight, but Hugh Bowman takes the ride.
Race 3 tip: Ken’s Dream to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 4 – Inglis 55 Second Challenge (955m)
Beau Rada was a classy last start winner which flashed home late on this track. The five-year-old is a course specialist which has won three from nine starts at The Valley with four placings. It will need the speed to be hot up front, but it should pick a path through the field late.
Sirbible is another three-time winner on this track and it wasn’t beaten far last start. The Russell Bell-trained gelding finished third behind Malaguerra in the Australia Stakes on this track which should be a good form guide. Carries a big weight, but it should be in the mix.
Petits Filous is an enigmatic type which failed at its last two starts. The Maher-trained mare finished last in the Arrowfield and 13th in the Sangster last start, which isn’t great signs for this, but that opposition was strong. It’s unbeaten in two fresh up starts which is the key factor for punters. Betting will suggest how forward it is for this.
Race 4 tip: Beau Rada to win at Bet365.com
Race 5 – Art Series Alexandra Stakes (1600m)
Ellicazoom is getting used to running second having finished runner up at its last five starts. The filly from Perth has been competing in tough races such as the Armanasco Plate and the Kewney Stakes, so there’s plenty to like about its season so far and we’re expecting another tidy effort in this.
Oregon’s Day may have finished eighth in the Kewney Stakes, but it was one of the runs of the day at Flemington. The Mick Price-trained three-year-old blew the start, but made up plenty of ground in the straight and the extra distance looks ideal. Punters should have noted that effort as it was eye catching and another top run should be expected.
Montoya’s Secret is ready to face this class after its 4.5-length win on this track last start. The Corstens-trained filly thrashed its rivals in its second consecutive dominant display, but the rise in class is a major factor. This won’t be easy, but punters should get a good price.
Race 5 tip: Oregon’s Day to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 6 – William Hill Sunline Stakes (1600m)
Circular had plenty of betting support in the Matron Stakes at Flemington last start and it did the job perfectly. The O’Shea-trained mare showed good potential in Sydney without being a superstar, but it experienced instant success going left handed. Drawing barrier 10 will pose problems for jockey Craig Williams, but we wouldn’t be leaving it out of calculations.
I Am A Star scored a game win over Ellicazoom in the Kewney Stakes last start and that should be a good form guide for this. The Shane Nichols-trained filly just got the bob in on the line and the extra distance here looks suitable. Dropping down in weight to 54kg is ideal and it should be tough to beat.
Thames Court couldn’t keep up in the Coolmore, but its form prior warrants attention. The David Brideoake-trained mare finished second in the Mannerism at Caulfield in February and it runs best at Moonee Valley with two wins from three starts. Bowman rides and that should instill confidence with punters.
Race 6 tip: I Am A Star to win at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 7 – Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (1200m)
Hellbent hasn’t been the easiest horse to follow this campaign, but it does have things going in its favour. The Weir-trained four-year-old has yet to run at Moonee Valley, but it has a good sprint which suits here and it’s coming off a fast-finishing performance for fourth in the Oakleigh Plate. That form is good for this so consider at each way odds.
Sheidel had every chance to run down Redkirk Warrior in the Newmarket Handicap, but that should be a great form race for this. The Lindsay Park-trained mare won the Oakleigh Plate in style and although it’s yet to win around this track, it should be able to sit on the speed and kick strongly. It has won over $1.75 million in earnings and that should be respected.
Silent Sedition ran very well in the Coolmore last start and returning back to left handed tracks should be a positive. The Andrew Noblet-trained four-year-old was brave in defeat and the Mannerism winner has yet to run a poor race. It does best at this distance and jockey Katelyn Mallyon will likely settle forward.
Race 7 tip: Sheidel to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 8 – Adapt Australia R70 Handicap (1200m)
Tigidig Tigidig has looked the goods at its last three starts, winning all three. The six-year-old stays in this grade after beating Verstappen last time out and most of its form has come on this track. The rise in weight does make it tough, but we can’t rule out this in-form son of War Pass.
Handsome Thief is a classy four-year-old for Darren Weir which won on this track last start. It scored easily by 3.5 lengths and it also won here on debut by a similar margin. It has drawn to get a good trip in transit from barrier six and punters should expect a good showing.
El Sicario was considered good enough to run in the Champagne Stakes and it made steady ground on this track last start. The Busuttin/Young-trained gelding will enjoy stepping up over this distance where it has won and placed from three starts so consider here.
Race 8 tip: Handsome Thief to win at Bet365.com