Ciaron Maher‘s last-start Group 1 Oakleigh Plate champion, Jimmysstar, is favoured for another elite-level victory in Melbourne this Saturday, leading the 2025 William Reid Stakes betting at The Valley.

The Ciaron Maher trained Jimmysstar chases more Group 1 glory in the 2025 William Reid Stakes at The Valley on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Moonee Valley will host the latest Group 1 race of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival, coinciding with Golden Slipper Day in Sydney.

A star-studded field of autumn sprinters will compete in the $1 million William Reid Stakes (1200m), with Jimmysstar tipped for success second-up.

He leads the William Reid Stakes odds at Ladbrokes at $3.30, having eased slightly from his opening quote of $2.90 despite drawing well in gate two.

Jimmysstar, a five-year-old Per Incanto gelding, won the Oakleigh Plate over 1100m at Caulfield by over a length with 54.5kg.

This weekend, he will race over 1200m at Moonee Valley for the first time.

An eight-time winner from 15 starts, he has winning form up to 1500m, making the extra distance ideal.

Maher previously won the William Reid with Loving Gaby in 2020, and the last horse to complete the Oakleigh Plate/William Reid Stakes double was Flamberge in 2016.

“Jimmysstar is out to complete the Oakleigh Plate/William Reid Stakes double for the first time since Flamberge in 2016!” an analyst from Races.com.au stated.

She’s Bulletproof ($5), trained by Charlotte Littlefield, is the second favourite.

The consistent four-year-old mare has finished outside the money only once in her 12 starts.

She has finished in the top two in her last six starts, including a 2.75-length Group 3 win over 1200m at Sandown before she finished second to Jimmysstar in the Oakleigh Plate.

“An ultra-consistent four-year-old, She’s Bulletproof simply doesn’t know how to run a bad race and has finished outside the money just once from her dozen starts to date,” a racing expert noted.

She’s Bulletproof will carry 56.5kg and will be ridden by Craig Williams.

Benedetta ($6), trained by Jason Warren, and Schwarz ($8), trained by John O’Shea & Tom Charlton, are also among the contenders.

Benedetta won the Group 1 The Goodwood in Adelaide last year while Schwarz won the Group 2 Autumn Stakes at this course and distance by 2 lengths earlier in the early.

“He’s looking to return to that commanding form after a disappointing Group 1 CF Orr run at Caulfield last time out when dead last behind Another Wil,” a racing analyst said of Schwarz who seeks atonement on Saturday.

Stretan Angel ($9.50), trained by Phillip Stokes, is also among the single-figure contenders, coming off Group 1 placings in the Black Caviar Lightning and Newmarket Handicap.

Reserve Bank ($26 into $17) is a market mover with the three-year-old Capitalist colt out to be the first of his age to win the event since the fillies Sunlight (2019) and Loving Gaby (2020) went back-to-back.

The 2025 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes is set to run as Moonee Valley Race 9 at 4:55pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

2025 William Reid Stakes Field 

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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