Imperatriz loves the course. The 2024 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday has plenty to live up to.
2024 WILLIAM REID STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The William Reid Stakes is a Group 1 race for Open Class horses conducted by the Moonee Valley Racing Club at Moonee Valley.
The William Reid Stakes was first run in 1925 and was won by The Night Patrol. That horse would win it again a year later.
The William Reid Stakes is run over 1200m under Standard Weight For Age conditions.
The race is registered as the William Reid Stakes but was re-named the Australia Stakes for several runnings for returning to its old name in 2010.
Much like in the Manikato Stakes, females have been on fire in this race. They've won 16 of the last 32 runnings. In the 2023 race, mares ran the first four placings led home by the kiwi Imperatriz.
3yos have enjoyed this race as well. 13 of the last 38 winners were youngsters. Like other WFA races run in the Autumn, from '94 to '00 3yos won 6 of 7 editions.
It is the final G1 of the Victorian Autumn and most of the runners come via the Triple Crown of sprints being the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap.
Probably the race's greatest historical note is that the legendary Manikato won it five straight times from 1979 to 1983.
Hong Kong's global traveller Cape Of Good Hope won in 2005 and would take the Golden Jubilee at the Royal meeting four months later held at York that year.
Black Caviar won the race twice and her final Victorian appearance was in winning this by four lengths in 2013 before finishing her career in the TJ Smith in Sydney.
Loving Gaby did the Manikato/William Reid Moonee Valley G1 double as a 3yo filly in the 2019/20 season. She beat home the minor placegetters from the Everest run six months later.
In 2024 the race was worth $1,000,000.
Notable winners include Heroic, Gothic, Waltzing Lily, Tranquil Star, Comic Court, Flying Halo, Winfreux, Dual Choice, All Shot, Toy Show, Family Of Man, Manikato, Campaign King, Vo Rogue, Zeditave, Hareeba, Cape Of Good Hope, Miss Andretti, Apache Cat, Black Caviar, Sunlight, Loving Gaby, September Run and Imperatriz.
The 2023 William Reid Stakes was won by Imperatriz from Bella Nipotina and Roch 'N' Horse.
