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The Race History of the William Reid Stakes run at Moonee Valley on Friday is dominated by a couple of legends.
Black Caviar won it twice. The 2023 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday has plenty to live up to.
2023 William Reid Stakes Day Nominations
2023 WILLIAM REID STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The William Reid Stakes is a Group 1 race for Open Class horses conducted by the Moonee Valley Racing Club at Moonee Valley.
The William Reid Stakes was first run in 1925 and was won by The Night Patrol. That horse would win it again a year later.
The William Reid Stakes is run over 1200m under Standard Weight For Age conditions.
The race is registered as the William Reid Stakes but was re-named the Australia Stakes for several runnings for returning to its old name in 2010.
Much like in the Manikato Stakes, females have been on fire in this race. They've won 15 of the last 31 runnings.
3yos have enjoyed this race as well. 13 of the last 37 winners were youngsters. Like other WFA races run in the Autumn, from '94 to '00 3yos won 6 of 7 editions.
It is the final G1 of the Victorian Autumn and most of the runners come via the Triple Crown of sprints being the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap.
Probably the race's greatest historical note is that the legendary Manikato won it five straight times from 1979 to 1983.
Hong Kong's global traveller Cape Of Good Hope won in 2005 and would take the Golden Jubilee at the Royal meeting four months later held at York that year.
Black Caviar won the race twice and her final Victorian appearance was in winning this by four lengths in 2013 before finishing her career in the TJ Smith in Sydney.
Loving Gaby did the Manikato/William Reid Moonee Valley G1 double as a 3yo filly in the 2019/20 season. She beat home the minor placegetters from the Everest run six months later.
In 2023 the race was worth $1,000,000.
Notable winners include Heroic, Gothic, Waltzing Lily, Tranquil Star, Comic Court, Flying Halo, Winfreux, Dual Choice, All Shot, Toy Show, Family Of Man, Manikato, Campaign King, Vo Rogue, Zeditave, Hareeba, Cape Of Good Hope, Miss Andretti, Apache Cat, Black Caviar, Sunlight, Loving Gaby and September Run.
The 2022 William Reid Stakes was won by September Run from Halvorsen and General Beau.
