Group 1 racing returns to The Valley this Friday night with the running of the $1 million William Reid Stakes.
Last-start Oakleigh Plate winner Marabi will again step out as a dominant favourite, hoping to add to extend her unbeaten record of seven wins from seven starts.
The daughter of I Am Invincible can also add her name to an honour roll that features the likes of last year’s winner Masked Crusader, Sunlight, Spirit Of Boom, Black Caviar, and Zeditave.
We’ve run the rule over the entire 14-horse field and offer our thoughts below.
1. Trekking (4)
- Group 1’s: 2 (2019 Stradbroke Handicap, 2020 The Goodwood)
- Record: 41-10:6:6
- Track: 5:0-2-2
- Distance: 21:4-4-2
- Trainer: James Cummings
- Jockey: Damien Oliver
- Odds: $26.00
Failed to run on first-up in a much easier race at Flemington. Did plenty wrong in transit but has typically run well at The Valley. Four placings from five starts at this venue and has done some of his best racing in his second run back. This is tougher but has to be considered an each-way chance given his resume.
2. Jonker (14)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Manikato Stakes)
- Record: 29-5:3:5
- Track: 1:1-0-0
- Distance: 15:3-2-3
- Trainer: Tony Gollan
- Jockey: Craig Newitt
- Odds: $18.00
Won last year’s Manikato over the track and trip. Disappointed running last in the Oakleigh Plate first-up but doubt the tempo suited him that day. Slow post-race recovery but reportedly worked well earlier in the week. Would need to improve to win but a place isn’t out of the question.
3. The Inferno (7)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 14-9:2:0
- Track: 2:1-1-0
- Distance: 9:6-1-0
- Trainer: Cliff Brown
- Jockey: Mark Zahra
- Odds: $18.00
Worth forgiving on his first-up run in the Lightning Stakes after clipping heels heading into the straight. Was severely outmatched two back in The Everest but did win the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at The Valley before finishing a nose second to wild Ruler in the Moir Stakes. Out to 1200m is a big plus and he should be saving his best for late.
4. Kemalpasa (12)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 37-13:9:5
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 19:8-4-4
- Trainer: Richard & Chantelle Jolly
- Jockey: Jake Toeroek
- Odds: $15.00
Kept fresh since beating Behemoth by half a length in a Stakes race at Morphettville back in January. Has won both trials leading in and was third in last year’s Oakleigh Plate behind dead-heat winners Celebrity Queen and Portland Sky. On debut at The Valley but has raced extremely well in Melbourne before. Should push forward from the wide draw and be in it for a long way.
5. The Astrologist (1)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 23-7:4:5
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 10:4-2-3
- Trainer: Leon & Troy Corstens
- Jockey: Fred Kersley
- Odds: $13.00
Has found the money in two of his three runs this time in work. Stuck on well for third behind boil-over Newmarket Handicap winner Roch’n’horse two weeks ago and should be rock-hard fit at this stage of his prep. Almost never runs a bad race and gets the blinkers off for the first time. On trial at The Valley but should get the gun run from the inside draw. One of the main dangers to Marabi.
6. Halvorsen (15)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 29-9:4:3
- Track: 1:1-0-0
- Distance: 11:3-1-1
- Trainer: Robbie Griffiths & Matthew de Kock
- Jockey: Andrew Mallyon
- Odds: $71.00
Unplaced in four starts at Group 1 level. Won the Standish Handicap two back at Flemington but never measured up in the Newmarket. Does own a win at The Valley but this looks beyond him.
7. Standout (3)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 20-4:4:2
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 10:1-4-1
- Trainer: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
- Jockey: Brenton Avdulla
- Odds: $26.00
Showed improvement with the blinkers back on last time out. Fitter for two runs back but has struggled at this level in the past. Back on top of the ground should help his chances as well as last week’s Golden Slipper winner, Brenton Avdulla, steering.
8. September Run (11)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2020 Coolmore Stud Stakes)
- Record: 18-5:1:2
- Track: 3:0-0-1
- Distance: 8:2-01
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: Craig Williams
- Odds: $16.00
Ran on well for third in the Newmarket Handicap first-up. Hasn’t won a race since she took out the Coolmore two years ago but has form around Nature Strip during the spring. Has won twice in her second run back and has big scope for improvement.
9. Marabi (8)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2022 Oakleigh Plate)
- Record: 7-7:0:0
- Track: 3:3-0-0
- Distance: 4:4-0-0
- Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
- Jockey: Ben Allen
- Odds: $1.65
Undefeated mare that has much bigger races than this in her future. Stalked the speed and was enormous through the line winning the Oakleigh Plate with plenty left to spare last month. Kept fresh for the run and has drawn to slot in just behind the speed again from barrier eight. Owns a perfect 3-0 record at The Valley and is the one they all have to beat.
10. Electric Girl (10)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 22-6:1:5
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 9:2-1-2
- Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
- Jockey: Jye McNeil
- Odds: $71.00
Has placed in both runs back so far, albeit it against much easier company. Gapped Snapdancer by three lengths first-up at Randwick and was an impressive five-length winner over Annavisto in the Tressady Stakes a few weeks ago.
11. General Beau (6)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 12-4:4:0
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 2:0-0-0
- Trainer: Matthew Ellerton
- Jockey: Damien Thornton
- Odds: $31.00
Strips fitter for two runs back and has won third-up previously. Won both the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude as a two-year-old and was only half a length of Glistening last time out in the Moomba Plate at Flemington. Was far from disgraced finishing 3.5L off Marabi in the Oakleigh Plate first-up and could sneak a place.
12. Generation (2)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 7-4:1:2
- Track: 2:1-0-1
- Distance: 5:3-1-1
- Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
- Jockey: Ms Jamie Kah
- Odds: $21.00
Won the Manfred Stales by a comfortable margin two back at Caulfield and was only three-quarters of a length off Finance Tycoon in the Zeditave a month ago. Loves racing over this trip but is facing a sharp rise in grade to Group 1 level for the first time.
13. Marine One (13)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 10-4:1:1
- Track: 1:1-0-0
- Distance: 1:0-0-0
- Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
- Jockey: John Allen
- Odds: $21.00
Has gone to another level since joining the Maher and Eustace camp. Won back to back starts during the spring and only weakened late in the Newmarket after racing forward. Won the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes with plenty in hand last month and should appreciate 1200m now. This is tougher, but a place isn’t out of the question.
14. Zouzarella (9)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 6-2:1:0
- Track: 2:2-0-0
- Distance:3:2-0-0
- Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman
- Jockey: Brett Pebble
- Odds: $61.00
Freshened since finishing down the straight in the Surround Stakes at Randwick last month. Should appreciate racing back on top of the ground but still appears tested here.
15. Snapper (5)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 15-4:2:2
- Track: 5:4-1-0
- Distance: 10:4-1-2
- Trainer: Michael Moroney
- Jockey: Jordan Child
- Odds: $61.00
First emergency. Has won back-to-back starts at The Valley in BM70 grade. This looks tougher.
