Last year’s Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign has drawn barrier one in the final field for the 2018 Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes 2018 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Friday night.
She Will Reign, above, has drawn barrier 1 in the 2018 William Reid Stakes at The Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.
Melbourne based jockey Ben Melham takes the ride again on She Will Reign and is hoping to add another Group 1 to their record after they combined to win the 2017 Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill twelve months ago.
The Gary Portelli filly is also a Group 1 winner at The Valley but Kerrin McEvoy had to stand in for Melham when he couldn’t make She Will Reign’s light weight when she came from near last to win the $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) during the 20117 Spring Carnival.
Melham was back on the Manhattan Rain filly for her first up win in the $250,000 Inglis Sprint (1100m) at Warwick Farm on February 10 and was also aboard last start when she was only beaten two and half lengths when tenth to Russian Revolution in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 24.
Caulfield trainer Mick Price has accepted with his Group 1 winning mare Secret Agenda who has drawn barrier eight in the ten horse William Reid Stakes field with Damien Oliver booked to ride again after combining for a first up win in the Listed $120,000 ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on March 3.
Oliver was also on the mare when she won the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville during the 2017 Adelaide Autumn Carnival.
Secret Agenda is also included in the final field for the Group 1 $700,000 The PFD Food Services Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Lindsay Park trained Thronum, Mick Kent’s Supido and Team Snowden’s smart three year old Pariah are also dual acceptors in the William Reid Stakes and The Galaxy.
Thronum has drawn nicely at barrier three with Mark Zahra to ride again after the pair teamed up for a win three starts back in the Group 2 $200,000 Carlton Draught Australia Stakes over the same course and distance as the William Reid Stakes.
Supido is also a winner over the Moonee Valley 1200m course back in February 2016 in restricted class and heads to Friday night’s weight for age sprint on the back of a fifth to Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight on March 10.
Beau Mertens takes the ride on Supido who has drawn barrier six while Blake Shinn has been engaged for Pariah who has drawn next to Kent’s six year old at barrier seven.
Pariah will be having his first run back since finishing ninth to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival.
Check out the official William Reid Stakes 2018 Field & Barriers below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for the updated Moonee Valley Group 1 racing odds this weekend.
Final field for 2018 William Reid Stakes (1200m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1x43765x54 | ROCK MAGIC | Chris Gangemi | Damian Lane | 5 | 58.5kg | 104 |
| 2 | 423x654x53 | HELLBENT | Darren Weir | Craig Williams | 10 | 58.5kg | 105 |
| 3 | x930x15x45 | SUPIDO | Michael Kent | Beau Mertens | 6 | 58.5kg | 104 |
| 4 | 306x13x140 | THRONUM | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Mark Zahra | 3 | 58.5kg | 104 |
| 5 | 32111140×5 | BONS AWAY | Aaron Purcell | Ms Linda Meech | 2 | 58.5kg | 99 |
| 6 | 167x5114x1 | SECRET AGENDA | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 8 | 56.5kg | 112 |
| 7 | 21x78192x0 | FUHRYK | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Stephen Baster | 9 | 56.5kg | 103 |
| 8 | 1220x129x | PARIAH | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 7 | 56kg | 91 |
| 9 | x121x10x10 | SHE WILL REIGN | Gary Portelli | Ben Melham | 1 | 54kg | 111 |
| 10 | 0x21330x60 | CATCHY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Dwayne Dunn | 4 | 54kg | 102 |
