Jamie KahThe 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes is a 1200 metre Weight-for-Age race for horses aged three years and above.

The 3 Point Motors William Reid is the fourth and final Group 1 on The Valley Racing Calendar, and it is also the last Group 1 Sprint in the Victorian Autumn. 

The William Reid Stakes been won twice by the LEGENDARY Black Caviar in 2011 and 2013, and an incredible five times by “The Man,” Manikato from 1979 to 1983.

In 2021 the 3 Point Motors William ReidStakes received a prizemoney uplift from $500,000 to $1million, standing it alongside the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes and the Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes as the richest night races in Australia. 

Insert Image HereThe William Reid Stakes was named after William Reid who served as a committee member at Moonee Valley Racing Club in the early 1900’s.

Originally from Morayshire, Scotland, William Reid was a Victorian Banker and racehorse owner who owned dual Caulfield Cup winner Uncle Same, winning in 1912 and 1914 and running third in the 1912 Melbourne Cup.

Reid passed away in 1923, and in 1925 the William Reid Stakes was run for the first time and won by Night Patrol, who also won the following year in 1926.

The race changed name to the Australia Made Stakes from 1994-1995 and then to the Australia Stakes from 1996-2009, before returning to the William Reid Stakes in 2010, not to be confused with the now Group 2 Australia Stakes which was previously called the Norman Carlyon Stakes and Stanley Wootton Stakes.

Insert Image HereRun over 1200m at weight-for-age conditions, the William Reid Stakes has been won by some of the Champions of the Australian Turf, but none had a better record in the race than the Mighty Manikato who won five in a row from 1979-1983.

Since then, some other star sprinters that have etched their names on the trophy include Vo Rogue in 1988, Zedative 1989, Hareeba 1995, Cape of Good Hope 2005, Miss Andretti 2007, Apache Cat 2008-2009, and the invincible Black Caviar won in 2011 and 2013.

In 2019 three-year-old filly Sunlight won, taking out her third Group 1 and in 2020 another three-year-old filly Loving Gaby completed the Manikato/ William Reid double.

RACE FIRST RUN: Saturday, January 24, 1925

LONGEST PRICED WINNERS
$31 (Toledo-2002); 25/1 (Spanish Mix-1993, Tranquil Star-1946)

SHORTEST PRICED WINNERS
$1.03f (Black Caviar-2013); $1.09f (Black Caviar-2011)

LEADING TRAINERS
Bob Hoysted (6), Angus Armanasco, Jack Holt, Paddy Quinlan (4), Owen Marshall, Peter Moody (3)

LEADING JOCKEYS
Roy Higgins, Jack Purtell, Gary Willetts (5), Darren Gauci, Bill Williamson (3)

FRIDAY 25th MARCH 2022 PRIZEMONEY DISTANCE
Carlton Draught Emma Boling Plate $130,000 1200m
Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap $75,000 1200m
Listed PFD Services Valley Pearl $160,000 1200m
Group 2 BMD Group Sunline Stakes $300,000 1600m
Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge Final $130,000 955m
Chandler Macleod Handicap $75,000 2040m
Group 1 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes $1,000,000 1200m
Group 3 Dynamic Print Group Alexandra Stakes $200,000 1600m