Mark Walker‘s champion mare Imperatriz headlines the field for the 2024 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley this Saturday.

Imperatriz wins 2024 Black Caviar Lightning

Imperatriz is out to become a 10-time Group 1 winning mare in the William Reid Stakes 2024 this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The I Am Invincible mare is a short-priced favourite at $1.85 at Ladbrokes to defend her title and notch her tenth career Group 1 victory.

Imperatriz boasts an unblemished record (4 wins from 4 starts) at the tight Moonee Valley circuit.

Following a narrow second in the Newmarket Handicap while carrying top weight, she returns to the weight-for-age conditions that favour her.

A victory on Saturday would see Imperatriz join elite company: becoming the first back-to-back William Reid Stakes winner since Apache Cat (2008-09) and the first to achieve consecutive wins since Black Caviar (2011, 2013).

Godolphin‘s Cylinder, fresh off his Newmarket Handicap victory, presents the main threat to Imperatriz’s dominance.

Drawn barrier 1, the Exceed And Excel colt boasts a strong record over the 1200m distance but has yet to race at Moonee Valley.

He’s currently priced at $4.60 at Ladbrokes to cause another upset.

Last year’s runner-up Bella Nipotina ($7) and the fellow Ciaron Maher-trained mare I Am Me ($10) are the other notable contenders.

Bella Nipotina, a Moonee Valley specialist, is drawn well and has a consistent record at the track.

I Am Me, resuming from a break, has an impressive first-up record and finished second to Imperatriz in last year’s Manikato Stakes.

See below for the complete 2024 William Reid Stakes final field and barrier draw with markets available through Ladbrokes here.

2024 William Reid Stakes Field

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 62725×9573 THE ASTROLOGIST Leon & Troy Corstens Declan Bates 9 58.5kg 104
2 x9275x440x THE INFERNO Cliff Brown Jake Noonan 8 58.5kg 101
3 631x117x11 QUEMAN Shane & Cassie Oxlade Harry Coffey 4 58.5kg 105
4 17x244x271 JOHNNY ROCKER Nick Ryan Rhys McLeod 11 58.5kg 75
5 21x1111x12 IMPERATRIZ Mark Walker Opie Bosson 10 56.5kg 119
6 6x33315x45 BELLA NIPOTINA Ciaron Maher John Allen 3 56.5kg 114
7 117x16122x I AM ME Ciaron Maher Ben Melham 2 56.5kg 110
8 8x27415x07 QUEEN OF THE BALL Michael Freedman Billy Egan 7 56.5kg 96
9 3x24221x42 HYPOTHETICAL Anthony & Sam Freedman Michael Dee 6 56.5kg 104
10 7x11350x61 CYLINDER James Cummings 1 56kg 113
11 1x233x31x8 KING’S GAMBIT Peter & Paul Snowden Jamie Mott 5 56kg 95

Table Credit: Racing Australia.


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About The Author

Lucy Henderson

Lucy is an experienced horse racing journalist that has been a crucial member of the horseracing.com.au team for the better part of a decade. She has taken great delight in covering champion mares Black Caviar and Winx throughout their careers and always has a soft spot for a winning filly.