William Reid Stakes

See the 2024 William Reid Stakes Preview and results.

See the 2023 William Reid Stakes Preview and results.

See the 2022 William Reid Stakes Preview and results.

See the 2021 William Reid Stakes Preview and results.

The William Reid Stakes was first run in 1925 and was named after banker and racehorse owner William Reid who owned a number of prominent racehorses in the early 1900’s including Uncle Sam who won two Caulfield Cups (1912 and 1914) and ran third in the 1912 Melbourne Cup.

In 1994 and 1995 the name of the race was changed to the Australian Made Stakes and then in 1996 it was changed again to the Australia Stakes until it reverted back to being called the William Reid Stakes in 2010, and from 2010 the Group 2 Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley in January became known as the Australia Stakes.

Traditional lead-up races are the Group 1 Lightning Stakes over 1000 metres or the Group 3 Rubiton Stakes over 1100 metres. Only a handful of horses have managed to win the Moonee Valley double of the Manikato Stakes in the spring and the William Reid Stakes in the autumn, both over 1200 metres. They include Miss Andretti and Manikato. The race has been conducted at a night meeting several times and the first overseas horse to win it was Cape Of Good Hope in 2005.

Last mare to win: Imperatriz (2024) – filly 2020

Last 3YO to win: C&G Foxwedge (2012); Filly – Loving Gaby (2020)

Multiple winners: Imperatriz (2023 & 2024); Black Caviar (2011 & 2013); Apache Cat (2008 & 2009); Manikato (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 & 1983); All Shot (1973 & 1974); Golden Doubles (1957 &1958); Flying Halo (1952, 1953 & 1955): Heros (1934 & 1935); The Night Patrol (1925 & 1926).

Fastest time (1200m): Spanish Mix (1993) 1:08:8

Interesting trivia: Comic Court (1951) won this race first-up in the autumn after winning the 1950 Melbourne Cup.

The race has always been at 6 furlongs which became 1200 metres in 1973 when Australia adopted metric distances, apart from 1971 when it was run over 5 furlongs. The inaugural winner in 1925 was The Night Patrol who won the next year too and several horses have won it more than once. The most famous multiple winner is Manikato who won the race a record five times in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

From the archives:

William Reid Stakes Preview & Tips 2018

Track: Good  Weather: Fine

There are ten runners for the $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes.  The early favourite is Secret Agenda who has won 7 of her 19 starts and who won over 1000m at Flemington when resuming. Second favourite is Rock Magic who is the oldest horse in the race (8yo) and was 5^th in the Lightning before 0.8 length 4^th in the Newmarket. Third favoritism is shared between Hellbent who was unlucky when a close 3rd in the Oakleigh Plate and ran 2^nd in this race last year, and 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign who has won 6 of her 9 starts.

Supido has ran 4^th in the Lightning and 5^th in the Newmarket since resuming. Pariah resumes here and has won both of her previous first-up starts. Thronum was a disappointing 12^th in the Newmarket but is better than that. Bons Away has 5 wins at this distance.  Catchy won at her only start on this track. Fuhryk has 2 wins at this track and distance and goes well second-up.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.