Embrace Me’s love affair for the The Valley is set to continue on Friday night when she lines up in the Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (1200m).
Sunlight, above, is the favourite for the 2019 William Reid Stakes at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Trainer Danny O’Brien is happy to give his in-form filly Embrace Me her chance in Group 1 company after she has shown her liking for the tight Moonee Valley circuit with three wins there from her last four starts.
“With a bit of luck she should have won her past four starts and she’s won her last three at the Valley so I feel it’s worth a try,” O’Brien told the Herald Sun.
“I know she’s taking on some top sprinters but she’s in terrific form.”
“She was very impressive the other night. It was a spectacular win and she’s in such good form it’s worth a try. She’s improved since and I’m confident she’ll put in a competitive run.”
Embrace Me is jumping up to Group 1 company after scoring a last to first win in the Group 3 $160,000 Crown Resorts Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on February 22 and is listed as a $16 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au for the William Reid Stakes.
Damien Oliver takes over the reins from Brett Prebble on Embrace Me who will jump from barrier three in the William Reid Stakes field that has been reduced to nine runners following the early scratchings of Shoals and Champagne Cuddles.
The Tony McEvoy trained Sunlight is the ruling $1.75 favourite but was disappointing at her only run at The Valley when seventh in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Sunlight was quick to bounce back from her Manikato Stakes defeat and showed her liking for the Flemington straight when she beat the colts and geldings in the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
The three year old Zoustar filly then showed her class when she beat the older sprinters in the Group 1 $1.25m Seppelt Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington a fortnight ago.
Sunlight will jump from the outside of the William Reid Stakes field with Luke Currie back in the saddle.
