The money is coming for the resuming In The Congo to salute at The Valley first-up on Friday night in the Group 1 $1 million William Reid Stakes (1200m).
In The Congo is the early 2023 William Reid Stakes market mover for Friday night at Moonee Valley. Photo: Steve Hart.
The 2023 William Reid Stakes field is down to 13 starters following the early withdrawal of Godolphin’s widely-drawn Paulele (14).
The latest William Reid Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes have the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained In The Congo as the early market mover heavily backed in from $14 to $7 to win under the lights.
Tim Clark has the ride on the four-year-old son of Snitzel who gets the run of the race from the inside alley.
The horse has had just the one run at the notoriously tight Moonee Valley circuit when resuming last September to finish a distant sixth in the Gorup 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m).
This prep he kicks things off in elite level company over the six furlongs chasing his first win since his Group 1 Golden Rose success over Anamoe at Rosehill back in September of 2021.
It may have been nearly two years between wins for In The Congo, but the punters are happy to back him here off a four-and-a-half month let-up.
At his latest back in November he finished second when narrowly beaten at Newcastle in The Hunter (1300m).
He has been brought-on fitness-wise with two Randwick trials and has the support of the crowd.
Race favourite dominating the William Reid Stakes betting markets meanwhile at $3.70 is the Mark Walker-trained New Zealand mare Imperatriz.
Opie Bosson travels from across the Tasman to ride the consistent daughter of I Am Invincible.
The bonny bay has won 12 of her 18 starts to date including three on the trot this summer.
She was successful in two Group 1 races over 1200m and 1400m in January and February respectively before travelling down under this month.
Imperatriz was excellent at Randwick on March 4 when beaten a nose on the line by Artorius in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
On Friday evening she comes back in distance and runs the Melbourne way looking to salute for favourite backers from gate seven.
“That gives us good options,” her Matamata-based trainer, Walker, told Racing And Sports this week speaking of her mid-field barrier.
“She got around the Valley no problem at all (in her trackwork on Monday).
“It’s hard to knock her form right-handed but I believe she’s a little bit better left-handed so all’s good in that respect.
“They don’t give away Group 1 races over there (in Australia) but we’re hoping she’s a really good chance.
“Her run in Sydney was good and the winner (Artorius) ran a really good race in the George Ryder last weekend so the form has stacked up well.
“We’re happy with her.”
The danger occupying the second line of betting at $6 in gate five with Daniel Moor continuing associations is the in-form Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw.
He is chasing a fifth win on the trot and has been kept fresh since winning the Group 2 Australia Stakes at this track and trip in late January by two-and-a-half lengths.
Two of the past four editions of the William Reid Stakes were won by three-year-old fillies with Sunline (2019) and Loving Gaby (2020) going back-to-back.
Looking to be the next this autumn and well-supported at $8.50 to do so is the Jason Warren-trained daughter of Hellbent, Benedetta.
The filly is chasing her fifth win from six starts and comes off an effortless victory in the Inglis Sprint (1200m) down the Flemington straight on March 4.
Friday night sees her travel to Moonee Valley for the first time, but she was excellent defeating Paris Dior by three lengths at headquarters and will be given every chance by Daniel Stackhouse from barrier 11 in the Group 1.
The Quokka-bound Bella Nipotina from a wide draw rounds out the single-figure fancies at $9 with the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained mare looking to atone for her 12th in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
The William Reid jumps at 9:15pm (AEDT) on Friday night’s program as Moonee Valley Race 7.
