The William Reid Stakes is the final Group 1 of the season at The Valley and some of the best sprinters in Australia will do battle on Friday night.

Newmarket Handicap winner Bivouac is a clear favourite in our William Reid Stakes betting market, but he will face stiff competition from a host of Group 1 winners including Scales Of Justice, Mystic Journey, Pippie, Bivouac, Exceedance and Loving Gaby.

We have analysed the entire field and our complete 2020 William Reid Stakes tips can be found below.

Scales Of Justice

Scales Of Justice has been freshened-up for the William Reid Stakes since he was beaten as favourite in the C.F. Orr Stakes. He started his Autumn campaign with a win over this track and distance in the Australia Stakes and The Valley does seem to suit him. In saying that, this is a much tougher race and I’m not sure that he has the upside to win this contest.

Rock Magic

Rock Magic is back for another crack at the William Reid Stakes after finishing fourth in 2017 and fifth in 2018. He never runs a bad race at The Valley and he hasn’t been beaten far in a number of Group 1 races, but he is another horse that probably doesn’t have the upside to win such a strong Group 1 sprint.

Gytrash

Gytrash claimed a maiden Group 1 victory in the Black Caviar Lightning and he was far from disgraced when he finished third behind Bivouac and Loving Gaby in the Newmarket Handicap. The Valley is a track that should suit Gytrash and he maps to get a lovely run in transit from barrier four. He could be the big beneficiary if the three-year-olds fail to fire.

Vital Silver

Vital Silver will return to the races for the first time since he finished second in both the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes and the Winterbottom Stakes. He very nearly won the Manikato Stakes, but there is no doubt that this edition of the William Reid Stakes is a much tougher race. The Wanted gelding would need to improve again to be a genuine winning chance.

Zoutori

Zoutori has gone to another level this campaign and he heads into the William Reid Stakes on the back of strong performances in the Oakleigh Plate and the Newmarket Handicap. The Valley doesn’t seem like a natural track for Zoutori and he is going to get buried in the second half of the field from barrier two. I am happy to oppose him in this contest.

Mystic Journey

The William Reid Stakes is an interesting target for Mystic Journey. She hasn’t contested a race shorter than 1200 metres since she won the Lady Lynette in Tasmanian over a year ago and she finished fifth in a much weaker contest when she ran over this track and distance in the Spring of 2018. There is no doubt that she is a talented mare, but I am not sure that the William Reid Stakes is the right race for her.

Pippie

Pippie will ensure that there is plenty of early speed in the William Reid Stakes. Pippie ran her rivals into the ground when she led from start to finish to win the Oakleigh Plate and there is no doubt that Ben Melham will replicate those tactics from the wide barrier draw in the William Reid Stakes. The Valley does seem like the perfect track for Pippie and she will definitely give her rivals something to catch.

Embrace Me

It has been a while between race wins for Embrace Me and the William Reid Stakes is a genuine step-up in quality. In saying that, she rarely runs a bad race and all of her best form has come at The Valley. I don’t think she is good enough to win, but I think that she will produce a better performance than the current market suggests.

Bivouac

Bivouac is the horse to beat in the William Reid Stakes. He returned to his brilliant best with a simply dominant victory in the Newmarket Handicap and a repeat of that effort would make him very tough to beat. There will be some concerns about barrier one – as he never got a clear run in transit from the same barrier in the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes, but if he shows the early speed that he did in the Newmarket Handicap, he should be able to follow Pippie into the race. I think that he is the best sprinter in the country and he can win another Group 1.

Exceedance

Exceedance was backed as if unbeatable in the lead-up to the Newmarket Handicap, but he produced a slightly disappointing effort and never looked like a winning chance. The slightly tricky barrier means that he will have to settle in the second half of the field and he will be giving the likes of Pippie and Bivouac a decent start. I have to take him on at the current price.

Loving Gaby

Loving Gaby simply never runs a bad race. She won the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes over this track and distance in the Spring and she has gone on to finish in the placings in the Darley Sprint Classic, Black Caviar Lightning and the Newmarket Handicap. Barrier five is ideal for her and she should get a dream run in transit with Craig Williams in the saddle. There is no reason that she can’t be in the finish once again.

William Reid Stakes Tips

11 Loving Gaby at $5.00