The William Reid is the final Group 1 of the season in Melbourne and it throws up a good betting clash this year - headed up by the Newmarket winner Sunlight.
Anjana Picture: Racing and Sports
Sunlight is the early betting favourite, and chances are that she will still be favourite by the time they jump on Friday night. That's fair enough, she did a good job winning the Newmarket and has established herself as one of the stars of the current sprinting scene.
The same could be said of Shoals, however, and her return behind an on-song Trapeze Artist up in Sydney was more than adequate. It looks a great platform for her second-up run and what's really to like is the rating she produced off a lower base second-up last time around. There she closed hard in a fast and furious running of the Premiere Stakes at Randwick. 1200m, weight for age, and contested by a cluster of top liners en route to the Everest.
So good was Shoals' performance there that she was sent out favourite in the world's richest sprint. That race was torn apart by wet (how very Sydney...) conditions but the fact that she was the market elect is noteworthy, as is the performance that put her there. We could make a case that she should be favourite again on Friday at the Valley and we're happy to gamble on her against the star filly Sunlight.
Alas, Shoals has come out. So too has Sunset Watch in the first and that leaves Anjana looking remarkably well placed off a soft win first up that can act as a perfect barrier trial for the Valley tonight. She ran some smart figures behind good horses in the spring and also posted a way above average rating of the Valley 1200m as a two-year-old. Prices around $2.30 are more than adquate given what she faces tonight.
For an each way play we will roll on to the last, the Sunline for the mares, where Spanish Reef heads the betting as she looks to win the race for the second year on end.
She won the Matron en route to winning the Sunline last year, and was just as good picking up that race again this time around. She holds a favourite's chance but there is betting value around her with La Tigeresa one that appeals having run well in the Tressady last time which rated well. She was 16-1 there, and is likely to be similar odds again, but she can outrun that price from a good draw off a sharp figure and appeals each way.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Bet Of The Day: Race 7 #5 Shoals $3.20 Collect!!! Sub Race 1 #8 Anjana
