Sunlight is set to start a hot favourite in Friday night's William Reid Stakes
A huge weekend of racing kicks off this weekend at The Valley on Friday night with the running of the Group 1 William Reid Stakes the feature for the sprinters.
The 1200m $500,000 event has been won by some of the greats of the turf including Miss Andretti, Black Caviar and Apache Cat. This year’s race will be headlined by a horse who may end her career as one of the great sprinters of modern times in Sunlight.
After winning the Newmarket Handicap last start she will go into the race a hot favourite with Sportsbet currently having her at $2.50 in the All-In market for the sprint ahead of Osborne Bulls who won’t run and Shoals who may run so there is a big potential she starts even shorter. Now to take a look at the field she is likely to be up against
WILLIAM REID STAKES- LIKELY FIELD
SUNLIGHT- Luke Currie
MALAGUERRA
MANUEL
SPRIGHT (Possible Runner)
REDZEL (Possible Runner)- Kerrin McEvoy
WRITTEN BY- Jordan Childs
FELL SWOOP
BALLER
VOODOO LAD
BON’S AWAY
SHOALS (Possible Runner)- Rider TBC
The other highlight meeting of the weekend is of course Golden Slipper day at Rosehill which will feature five Group 1 races. The Golden Slipper is shaping to be a fascinating race with plenty of chances and no real stand out from the pack. Unbelievably, Godolphin is likely to saddle seven runners in the race whilst Aquis Farm will also own three runners in the $3,500,000 feature. Here is the likely field and riders in Ballot Order with the top seven ballot exempt.
GOLDEN SLIPPER LIKELY FIELD
- YES YES YES- Blake Shinn
- COSMIC FORCE- Mark Zahra
- TIME TO REIGN- Jason Collett
- MICROPHONE- Hugh Bowman
- TENLEY- James McDonald
- ANAHEED- Tim Clark
- KIAMICHI- Damian Lane
- LYRE- Luke Currie
- LANKAN STAR- Damien Oliver
- FREE OF DEBT- Dwayne Dunn
- ATHIRI- TBC
- PIN SEC- Tommy Berry
- CATCH ME- Corey Brown
- DUBIOUS- Michael Walker
- VINCERE VOLARE- Sam Clipperton
- EXHILARATES- Kerrin McEvoy
- 1ST EMG -LOVING GABY- Oisin Murphy
- 2ND EMG- MCLAREN- TBC
- 3RD EMG- BIVOUAC- TBC
- 4TH EMG- ROME- TBC
- AMERCEMENT- TBC
- HIGHTAIL- TBC
Another Group 1 on the day at Rosehill is the Galaxy for the sprinters and a quality field is expected to line up including the likes of Boom Sprinter Nature Stip, Top three year old Graff and seasoned Group 1 performer Redzel may also line up.
THE GALAXY- LIKELY FIELD
REDZEL (Not Confirmed)- Kerrin McEvoy
BALL OF MUSCLE- Glyn Schofield
NATURE STRIP- James McDonald
GRAFF- Brenton Avdulla
EASY EDDIE- Robbie Dolan
VIRIDINE- Tim Clark
PROPHET’S THUMB
I AM EXCITED
ENCRYPTION - Craig Williams
JUNGLE EDGE - James Winks
Winx will take her place in the George Ryder Stakes as she looks to win that race for the fourth time and on the rivals likely to front up against her you would say another win in the streak that stretches at 31 straight is a given.
GEORGE RYDER- LIKELY FIELD
WINX- Hugh Bowman
DREAMFORCE- Damian Lane
LAND OF PLENTY- Kerrin McEvoy
RINGERDINGDING
SHILLELAGH
KEMENTARI (Not Confirmed)
The other two Group 1 races at Rosehill are at 2000m one at WFA in the Ranvet Stakes and one for the three-year old’s in the Rosehill Guineas. Both races will have high interest from punters with the Ranvet a very competitive line up whilst the Rosehill Guineas sees The Autumn Sun have his first beyond 1600m. Here is the likely fields for both contests.
RANVET STAKES- Likely Field
JOHANNES VERMEER
HARLEM- Jamie Kah
NIGHT’S WATCH (Possible Runner)
SIKANDARABAD (Possible Runner)
AVILIUS - Kerrin McEvoy
EMINENT
EGG TART- Brenton Avdulla
ALMANDIN (Possible Runner)- Damien Oliver
DANZDANZDANCE- Opie Bosson
AUVRAY- Glyn Schofield
UNFORGOTTEN - Hugh Bowman
ACE HIGH- Dwayne Dunn
ROSEHILL GUINEAS- LIKELY FIELD
THE AUTUMN SUN- Kerrin McEvoy
EXTRA BRUT - Michael Walker
MADISON COUNTY
SURELY SACRED- Damian Lane
VERNANME- Opie Bosson
PURPLE SECTOR
ARAMAYO
DEALMAKER - Hugh Bowman
CHAPADA- Damien Oliver