The Valley comes to life again on Saturday with the Group 1 William Reid Stakes headlining the 10-race program.
Mighty mare Imperatriz has been installed at a short price ahead of the $1 million feature, a race she won last year ahead of Saturday’s rival, Bella Nipotina.
There’s big value to be found across the program, and our thoughts on this year’s William Reid Stakes meeting can be found below.
Marquess maps the likely leader here in a small field that lacks speed.
The Godolphin gelding strips fitter for two runs back, boasting some likable form lines around the likes of Amor Victorious and others recently in Sydney.
The decision to head to Melbourne for the first time is an interesting one, while I also query the decision to step up sharply from 1400m.
That said, he isn’t short on talent, and with a much better gate to his advantage, I think this is the right race for him.
Spywire is worth sticking with despite a rather flat performance in the Blue Diamond Stakes three weeks ago.
The wide gate was against him that day when beaten 3.4 lengths, rolling straight to the front under Josh Allen where he weakened badly up on the speed.
His recent jump out at Cranbourne suggested he’s bounced back nicely though, while it’s worth keeping in mind he was coming off a six-week let-up last time out.
Back in grade and drawn well, he almost picks himself here.
Strawberry Rock has track experience on his side as he gets out over these longer staying trips.
The seven-year-old trained by Ciaron Maher finds it tough to win, but everything about his recent efforts at Caulfield and Flemington suggests another victory might be imminent.
He was solid to the line over 2000m behind Aramco last start where he seemed to only let down over the final few stages.
Having handled this track/trip in the past, he appears well-placed here to go one better.
Regal Azmon is an honest type that has found the cash in eight of his 16 starts so far.
He was unlucky not to find another cheque first-up at Pakenham last month, held up at the top of the straight and never really clear until the race was already run.
The Magnus gelding had a wide gate to contend with that day, but this does look more suitable drawn low with Bruan Higgins jumping into the saddle.
Campionessa is a talented miler that returned to the winner’s circle last month with an impressive victory over further in the Peter Young Stakes.
Mark Walker’s mare beat home a couple of smart horses in previous Melbourne Cup champions Vow And Declare and Gold Trip that day, a solid effort after finishing second to Legarto in the Group 1 Herbie Dike across the ditch three weeks earlier.
Opie Bosson knows her inside and out, and I think this is a perfect set up for her back to 1600m with fitness on her side in the Sunline Stakes.
Keen to stick with Vivy Air second-up from a spell.
Archie Alexander’s filly was only denied narrowly at Headquarters two weeks ago, given a patient steer off the speed under Declan Bates where she came storming home to go within half a length of Legacies after being held up.
We saw her run some solid races out to the mile last prep, notably finishing third in the Sandown Guineas where she was 3.5 lengths off Serasana.
How she goes here at The Valley is the query, but off that first-up run, she should be winning sometime very soon.
Tough to find fault with the recent form of Verdad this prep.
The three-year-old by Justify was seen doing his best work late at Flemington first-up for third in a Group 3, returning two weeks later in the Australian Guineas where he got back and stalked the pace to finish fifth behind Southport Tycoon.
He’s better suited over these longer trips and does look set to peak now third-up. On class, I think he’ll be hard to beat in the Alister Clark Stakes.
Defending champ Imperatriz returns to The Valley with revenge in mind after seeing her winning streak snapped in the Newmarket Handicap a fortnight ago.
The extra weight clearly cost her a stride or two when she came off second best to Cylinder, while I also thought she was a touch keen when hitting the lead early at the top of the straight.
Her record here at The Valley is unmatched, and providing she still has some a bit left in the tank at this stage of her prep, I can’t see many beating her.
Ben Melham gets back into the irons aboard Inhibitions for the first time since their win over the same track and distance last August.
The Godolphin filly has since resumed at Flemington against her own sex three weeks ago, letting rip with some late speed to just miss out on a place over shorter.
Returning to The Valley for the Don Casboult Classic (Typhoon Tracy Stakes) is a big tick in the right box, not to mention her unbeaten second-up record.
Is It Me finds the right race deep into his prep.
Daniel Bowman’s gelding has been up for a while, but he’s held his own nicely to return a couple of wins and a place behind Jungle Jim from his last three starts.
Michael Dee gets a crack in the saddle for the first time, and from an inside gate with the right run off the speed, I think there’s a case to be made for him against this competitive field.