William Reid Stakes Tips & Preview 2023

Looking for William Reid Stakes tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2023 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.

WILLIAM REID STAKES BETTING SNAPSHOT

It is the Kiwi mare, Imperatriz, that is the $3.30 favourite with Palmerbet after her runner-up performance in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m), while the three-year-old, Benedetta, is at $7. In The Congo and Jigsaw are on the next line of betting at the $7.50. 

Last year’s dominant Manikato Stakes (1200m) winner, Bella Nipotina, gets back to the Valley and is at $14 alongside Babylon Berlin. King Of Sparta heads the rest of the 14-horse field at the $18. 

WILLIAM REID STAKES FORM ANALYSIS

Eight runners had their most recent start at Group 1 level, including Imperatriz, who looked the winner in the Canterbury Stakes before being gunned down late in the piece. The Mark Walker-trained galloper went nine lengths faster than standard benchmark and had the early gate speed. She should be suited at Moonee Valley and over the 1200m, a distance in which she has won four from six. 

Five runners come out of the Newmarket Handicap and it was the Godolphin youngster, In Secret, that was too good that day. None of the William Reid Stakes runners finished in the top seven. Front Page was 8th and was beaten less than three lengths. 

It remains to be seen how the Newmarket form holds up. Possible improvers are Bella Nipotina and September Run. That pair are both Group 1 winners at the track and trip but put in poor performances at Flemington. 

King Of Sparta and Masked Crusader come out of the Oakleigh Plate. King Of Sparta ran well to finish 4th and went 13.4 lengths faster than standard benchmark, which are the best last state benchmark figures of any runner. He was just behind the likes of Lofty Strike and Asfoora, who have since gone on to perform very well at Group 1 level. 

Benedetta jumps to Group 1 level after taking out the $750,000 Inglis Sprint at Flemington over the 1200m on March 4. Her previous win was in a BenchMark 78 but her figures well and truly stack up, going 12.4 lengths faster at Flemington. She also has a bit of upside. 

Jigsaw is going for five wins on the trot and he last stepped out in January in the Australia Stakes (1200m), winning that Group 2 by more than two lengths from Turaath, going 10.5 lengths faster than standard benchmark. 

Babylon Berlin is an interesting runner. He is a possible leader but needs to make up nearly five lengths after being defeated close to that margin by Imperatriz back in February. She has since taken out a Group 2 by seven lengths at Te Rapa. 

Rough hopes go to In The Congo and Paulele. In The Congo resumes, while Paulele is second up. He improved at this stage of this last preparation to score at Caulfield but needs to do it from barrier 14. 

WILLIAM REID STAKES TIPS AND BEST BETS

Imperatriz might just be the obvious selection here and we can line up her form against some of the top talent after her performance in the Canterbury Stakes. You can certainly make a case for a number of the other contenders including Benedetta and King Of Sparta but my only concern is a number have drawn wide, while the Kiwi should just about get the run of the race. It might be worth keeping an eye on the late betting for Jigsaw, who could be the danger. But I am happy to go with the favourite in this Group 1.