Girls to the fore in William Reid
Moonee Valley, G1 Keogh Homes William Reid S., $500,000, 1200m
The final Group 1 of the Victorian racing season pits several well-credentialled sprinters in what will also be the final Moonee Valley night meeting of 2020/21.
Libertini (I Am Invincible) has contested many of Australia's best sprint races and gets her chance for a breakthrough Group 1 win in her first start since running third in the G1 Darley Sprint Classic in November. She has won two of her four fresh runs and trainer Anthony Cummings will have her ready to go here.
The past two editions of this race have been won by 3-year-old fillies and G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner September Run (Exceed And Excel) will be looking to make it a hat-trick. The Chris Waller-trained filly was excellent two back in the Lightning S., when second, but had an off day when 10th in the G1 Newmarket H. It will be interesting if she can take centre stage again here.
September Run
The Team Corstens-trained Swat's That (Shamus Award) is the other 3-year-old filly in the race. She was third in the Lightning S. and then fifth in the Newmarket and has the advantage of having won over this track and distance before.
The female influence on the race also extends to Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner), who has been close-up in Group 1 races at this track before for Jason Warren and Dean Krongold, and the Chris and John Meagher-trained Pippie (Written Tycoon), who is the likely leader and won the G1 Moir S. last year.
Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) is closing in on his first Group 1 victory, having finished third in the G1 Canterbury S. and is the X-factor in the race along with Matt Laurie's colt Portland Sky (Deep Field), who comes off his dead-heat win in the G1 Oakleigh Plate last time out.
Old marvel Hey Doc (Duporth) can also never be discounted in these types of races having twice won the G1 Manikato S. over this track and distance before.
Sunline wide open
Moonee Valley, G2 Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Sunline S., $200,000, 1600m
Valuable black type is on offer for a host of mares in what is a very even renewal of the Sunline S.
Grand De Flora (NZ) (Savabeel) charged home in the G3 Frances Tressady S. last time out for trainer Danny O'Brien and looks well-suited in this type of race.
Team Hawkes' Scarlet Dream (Sebring) is a long time between wins, but her first-up third in the G3 Matron S. at Flemington gave indication that she might be on the precipice of another win here. Ahead of her that day in second place was he much-improved Quantum Mechanic (Deep Field) for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr and a stakes win would be a great reward for her consistency this time in.
Oceanex (NZ)
Price and Kent Jnr also have Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the race in her first start since the G1 Melbourne Cup. She looked quite sharp in a recent trial win and a forward showing wouldn't surprise given she probably has a class edge on most of her rivals here.
In Good Health (Congrats) was an upset stakes winner for Peter Moody during her last campaign and you would expect substantial improvement from her here second-up into this winnable race.
Chica's chance to shine
Moonee Valley, G3 Dynamic Print Alexandra S., $160,000, 1600m
Anthony and Sam Freedman's progressive filly Chica Fuerte (Hinchinbrook) gets her chance for more stakes success in what looks a very winnable race for the G3 Ethereal S. heroine of last spring.
She has built very nicely into her campaign with two good runs to date and was beaten by a bob of the head by Starelle (More Than Ready {USA}) in the G2 Kewney S. last time out. On her best form, she should prove too good for her rivals here.
Love Sensation (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) does drop back in class off her last start seventh in the G1 Surround S. and trainer Kevin Corstens will be hoping to get her back to winning form, having tackled some of the country's best fillies in recent starts.
Peter Moody's Vidiano (Pierro) looks particularly progressive and boasts a pedigree which should suggest she is suited at the mile here with her dam a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and New Zealand sire Contributer (Ire). She impressed at Pakenham last time out and can take the step up.
Miss Inbetween (Fighting Sun) and Miss Guggenheim (Dundeel {NZ}) are the other two fillies afforded winning chances by the market.
Entente hungry for more Cups
Albury, Listed Commercial Club Albury Gold Cup, $200,000, 2000m
Smart stayer Entente (Dundeel {NZ}) has been on the road in the past six months contesting country Cups from Canberra to Geelong to Port Macquarie and now lands in Albury for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Jockey Sam Clipperton is likely to look to make his own luck at the head of affairs, and given he is now three runs into his preparation, you can expect the 4-year-old gelding will prove hard to run down.
Declares War (Declaration Of War {USA}) is also a country Cups campaigner having won trophies at Camperdown and Wangaratta either side of a Listed win in Adelaide in his past three runs. His trainer, Matt Cumani, is in rare form at the moment and he will feel his 5-year-old can acquit himself well in an even race.
Nick Ryan's Mahamedeis (Magnus) drops back in class from a sixth placing in a G2 Blamey S. He loves the 2000 metres and can get back to winning form.
Silent Sovereign (Dalakhani {Ire}) has been in good form for Tony and Calvin McEvoy and she is also among the contenders having finished fourth in a Group 3 race at Flemington last time out, while Chris Waller brings The Lord Mayor (NZ) (Rock 'N' Pop) south off a couple of very competitive runs in stakes races in Sydney at his past two starts.
