LIBERTINI COULD KICK-START A BIG WEEKEND FOR TOMMY BERRY IN THE WILLIAM REID STAKES

By Matt Moore | Thursday, March 18, 2021

MATT MOORE’S WILLIAM REID STAKES PREVIEW

For the second time in a week, The Valley is set to come alive. Last week’s All Star Mile meeting for the Moonee Valley Race Club was a huge success. The sight of patrons back on track was great and from those who I have spoken to, who were lucky enough to attend, said that the noise made by the 9000 spectators for the main race sounded like the usual 40,000 on track for a Cox Plate meeting.

Tonight we are set for the last Group 1 to be staged in Victoria for this season. Friday nights at the Valley are always spectacular but even better when you have a Manikato Stakes or, in the case, the William Reid Stakes. And what a field that has assembled for this year’s edition.

It will be a spectacular night in Melbourne. A perfect day of 26 degrees, the big AFL game just up the road between the Dogs and the Pies and 8 races on the card.
The track has recovered well after the rain it received on All Star Mile day. We started last Saturday on a Good 4, then upgraded to a Good 3 before the rain came and ended the meeting on a Soft 7. We’ll be on a Good 4 tonight with the potential for an upgrade and the rail remains in the true position as was the case last week.

NB: As these selections were made prior to race-day please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

RACE 7: GROUP 1 WILLIAM REID STAKES OVER 1200M FOR THE 3YO’S AT WFA CONDITIONS

Pippie will set the red-hot speed and will be joined by Ancestry and Indian Pacific from the widest gate.

No 1 Hey Doc. Gate 5. 58.5kg. Luke Currie for Tony and Calvin McEvoy

He loves the Valley with 4 wins from 7 goes around this tight circuit and is a 1200m specialist. He resumed this prep in the Listed Bob Hoysted at Flemington over 1000m. It was too sharp for him and he also carried 63kg in that run. Go back 2 starts prior when he took out the Manikato Stakes last year carrying this exact weight, from the same gate at this track and distance. He’ll be ready to go come 8.30pm Melbourne time. Will get a lovely sit in behind the speed. With this Valley record at 1200m and his 2nd up record, he is big overs.

No 2 Kementari. Gate 9. 58.5kg. Chris Parnham for James Cummings

Special K as we know him. Resuming here after a pretty good campaign which started in Melbourne and ended in Perth with victory in the Group 3 Schahill Stakes at Ascot. He beat home Celebrity Queen on that occasion. He ran 5th in the Manikato Stakes 2nd up in that prep. I think the depth of this field will be too good for him and the distance a bit sharp.

No 3 Elite Street. Gate 3. 58.5kg. Jye McNeil for Daniel Morton

This 4yo gelding from WA arrived in Melbourne off the back of 5 wins from 8 starts in the west. The most notable being his last run in his last campaign in winning the Winterbottom Stakes. His first run this prep was in the Lighting Stakes at Flemington where it was documented he had post-race issues. He then ran in the Newmarket at the 1200m where he faded away in the last sector. Gate 3 is a positive and should sit midfield.

No 4 Indian Pacific. Gate 14. Brad Parnham for Neville Parnham

Another 4yo WA gelding who has come over to Melbourne, running 2nd in his two starts since arriving. The first of those was the Listed Bob Hoysted then in his next start in the Newmarket. His career record is good with 7 wins from 14 starts. He’s drawn the widest gate here but will cross over to join the speed.

No 5 Ancestry. Gate 10. 58.5kg. Michael Poy for Phillip Stokes

He’s been in fantastic form winning all 3 races last prep with his last, the Century Stakes at Flemington the most notable. A disappointing run in the Oakleigh Plate when resuming saw him go back for 2 runs at the trails. He ran 2nd at Geelong in the first of those behind How Wowmantic then stepped out again at Cranbourne over 800m to beat home Brooklyn Hustle. He came back from those 2 trials to win the Listed Abell Stakes last Saturday at this track and trip by 2,25 lengths.

No 6 Masked Crusader. Gate 2. 58.5kg. William Pike for Team Hawkes

He came back to resume this prep with a great run in the Southern Cross at Randwick. His next start was the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes where he missed the start but hit the line well to finish 3rd. He’s unbeaten 3 from 3 at the distance but the big thing standing out is the Tommy Berry factor. TB has ridden him 5 of his last 6 races as well as 2 trials but has opted to take another ride here.

No 7 Flit. Gate 6. 58.5kg. Damian Oliver for James Cummings

Godolphin send out their 2nd runner in this race searching for this mare’s first win in nearly 6 months. She resumed in the Expressway running over 4 lengths behind winner and stablemate Savatiano then tackled the Newmarket at Flemington where she couldn’t find the room needed. 3rd up here and this is when she’s her most dangerous, especially from a good gate. The map looks tricky but she can definitely overcome this if things fall into place.

No 8 Libertini. Gate 13. 56.5kg. Tommy Berry for Anthony Cummings

Anthony Cummings brings this gun mare down from Randwick fresh with a great first up record. She began her last prep taking out the Premiere beating home Classique Legend by 2 lengths then they both went onto The Everest which Classique Legend won. Libertini on that occasion drew the widest gate and was forced to race wide with no cover. She finished out that prep in the VRC Classic at Flemington running 3rd behind Bivouac and Nature Strip. She’s another one that loves the 1200m but will need to overcome a wide gate. She should get a great sit 3rd pair back. Tommy Berry on board here which could be a massive weekend if he claims this Group 1. He’ll return to Sydney Saturday morning and rides Master of Wine, Mo’unga, Funstar and Stay Inside in 4 of the 5 Group 1’s at Rosehill.

No 9 Pippie. Gate 8. 56.5kg. Noel Callow for Chris Meagher

She burst out the gates to win the Moir Stakes here 1st up last prep, albeit at a 1000m. She led them around the turn her next start in the Manikato but faded away in the last sector as was the case in her 1st up race this prep which was the Lighting Stakes. I’d prefer to see her at 1000m but she’ll set a lively tempo and give them something to chase.

No 10 Bella Vella. Gate 11. 565kg. Jason Collett for Will Clarken

Freshened up to run 3rd in the Challenge behind Eduardo and Nature Strip after beginning this prep on the Gold Coast in the Magic Millions back in January. She just couldn’t run on on that occasion. She did win the McEwen here 1st up last prep and ran 3rd in the Moir.

No 11 Brooklyn Hustle. Gate 7. 56.5kg. Damien Lane for Jason Warren

She comes through a lot of the form mentioned previously running 3rd in the McEwen with two 4th placings in the Moir then the Manikato. She had a good return upon resumption in the Oakleigh Plate and zero luck in her last start which was in the Newmarket. She’s a backmarker and will need all the luck but she has won on 2 occasions previously at the track.

No 12 Portland Sky. Gate 1. 56kg. Mark Zahra for Matt Laurie

He’s drawn the pole and comes in here off the back of 3 wins from his last 4 starts. The first of those was in the Red Anchor Stakes at this track and distance leading from start to finish and carrying 57kgs. He then came up to Eagle Farm resuming this prep in the Vo Rogue where he never got into the race, finishing 14 lengths behind the winner. A 21 day break and a return to Melbourne worked wonders where he went on to win the Manfred Stakes then then Oakleigh Plate in a dead heat with Celebrity Queen. He’s 2 from 2 at the 1200 with one of those wins at the Valley. He’ll get a gun sit right up on speed.

No 13 September Run. Gate 12. 54kgs. Craig Williams for Chris Waller

She resumed a red-hot favourite coming into the Lighting Stakes down the straight at Flemington after a stellar campaign last prep, winning 2 of her last 3 runs with the other a 2nd in the Coolmore Stud. In the Lighting Run, she settled toward the back of the field but left her run a little too late, powering home over the 100m to run 2nd. Had every chance in the Newmarket but struggled to get going at the key point. It’ll be interesting to see how she tackles the tight circuit of the Valley after her last 5 runs have been down the straight up the road at Flemington.

No 14 Swats That. Gate 4. 54kg. John Allen for Leon and Troy Corstens

She measures up well here from Gate 4 and will get a sit just off the leaders. Her two runs this prep have been at Flemington running 3rd upon resumption in the Lightning and 5th in the Newmarket. Both runs have been excellent. Go back to her last prep where she won 2 Group 3s in the Champagne Stakes here and The Thoroughbred Stakes and Flemington. She then went on to run 2nd in the Coolmore Stud to finish off her last campaign. She’s drawn extremely handy and Johnny Allen should put her right up in the box seat.

SELECTIONS:

LIBERTINI
ANCESTRY
HEY DOC
SWATS THAT

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