The 2021 William Reid Stakes is the final Group 1 in Victoria of the current racing season and we are set for an outstanding race at The Valley on Friday night.

A host of Group 1 winners have been included in the William Reid Stakes field and our market suggests that there are a host of winning chances.

We have analysed the entire field and our complete 2021 William Reid Stakes tips can be found below!

Hey Doc

Hey Doc has a simply outstanding record at The Valley and he is the value runner in what is a very open edition of the William Reid Stakes.
The veteran sprinter failed to fire in the Bob Hoysted Handicap, but he has shown time and time again that he goes to another level when he gets to The Valley over 1200 metres.
His victory in the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes in the Spring was nothing short of outstanding and a repeat of that effort would have him right in the mix.
Barrier five is ideal and Luke Currie is riding with plenty of confidence.

Kementari

Kementari will make his return to the races in the William Reid Stakes after finally ending his losing streak in the Scahill Stakes in Perth last year.
You never really know what Kementari is going to show up and he has run well at The Valley in the past without winning.
$21 is around the right mark.

Elite Street

Elite Street won the Winterbottom Stakes at Group 1 level last year, but he has struggled to replicate that sort of form in Victoria.
He finished at the tail of the field first-up in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes before he weakened badly late in the Newmarket Handicap.
It is tough to back him in this contest on the back of those two performances.

Indian Pacific

Indian Pacific was gallant in the Newmarket Handicap and he produced a career best performance to finish second behind Zoutori.
He was able to get a fairly soft lead in the Newmarket Handicap, but that won’t be the case in the William Reid Stakes and the wide barrier draw does make this a tricky race for him.

Ancestry

Ancestry is on the quick back-up after leading from start to finish to win the Abell Stakes at The Valley on All-Star Mile Day.
The William Reid Stakes is a much tougher assignment for him and I am happy to take him on at the current price.
Ancestry has generally produced his best form in low pressure races where he is able to dictate from the run and he won’t be able to do that on Friday night with the likes of Pippie engaged.

Masked Crusader

Masked Crusader has started to live up to the hype this campaign and he goes into the William Reid Stakes on the back of a win in the Southern Cross Stakes and a placing in the Canterbury Stakes.
He would still need to go to another level to win a William Reid Stakes of this quality, but he does have the upside to do exactly that.
Barrier two is ideal and he has the benefit of William Pike in the saddle.

Flit

The jury is out on Flit somewhat after a couple of flat efforts in the Expressway Stakes and the Newmarket Handicap.
Her best form would have her in the mix in the William Reid Stakes, but it has been a while since she has performed at that level.

Libertini

Libertini is the x-factor in the William Reid Stakes field.
She isn’t the most consistent mare in the world, but her best form is truly world class and her first-up win in the Premiere Stakes in the Spring was nothing short of outstanding.
The big worry for her is the wide barrier draw and it is tough to see where she gets in the run.
With even luck in running though, she will be right in the mix and definitely can’t be discounted.

Pippie

Pippie is one of a number of horses that will ensure that there is plenty of tempo in the William Reid Stakes.
I have always been of the opinion that she is at her best over 1100 metres and she heads into this contest on the back of a fairly flat effort in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.
I’m not sure she is good enough to win such a high pressure race over 1200 metres.

Bella Vella

Bella Vella may be a Group 1 winner over 1200 metres, but her best form is generally over 1000 metres.
She wasn’t disgraced in the Challenge Stakes behind Eduardo and Nature Strip, but I would be surprised if she is able to claim another Group 1 win in the William Reid Stakes.

Brooklyn Hustle

Brooklyn Hustle doesn’t have the ideal racing pattern for The Valley, but she has raced well at the venue in the past.
She finished fourth in both the Moir Stakes and the Manikato Stakes in the Spring and she has followed that up with luckless efforts in both the Oakleigh Plate and the Newmarket Handicap.
The hot tempo expected in the early stages of this race will give her the chance to run on, but she is always a gamble because of her racing pattern.

Portland Sky

Portland Sky has recorded four winners from his seven race starts and he goes into the William Reid Stakes on the back of wins in both the Manfred Stakes and the Oakleigh Plate.
His best chance in this race will be to go forward and I think he would have to go to another level again to be a genuine winning hope in a race of this quality.

September Run

September Run is arguably the toughest horse to assess heading into the William Reid Stakes.
She looked set for an enormous campaign when she returned to the races with a second place finish in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, but she failed to fire a shot as a dominant favourite in the Newmarket Handicap.
I’m not convinced that The Valley is the track for her and I am happy to oppose her at the current quote.

Swats That

Swats That has developed into a consistent sprinter and she goes into the William Reid Stakes on the back of solid efforts in both the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and the Newmarket Handicap.
I’ve always been of the opinion that Swats That is just below the top-level of sprinters and she would need to go to another level to be a genuine chance in the William Reid Stakes.
$14 seems around the right price.

William Reid Stakes Tips

Masked Crusader at $8.50