Moonee Valley: Saturday 23rd March Preview

Moonee Valley will host an action-packed ten-race card this Saturday. With five Group races scheduled, the feature race of the day is the 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes.

Read on as we preview each and every race from Saturday’s card.  

Saturday’s action kicks off with an eight runner handicap. In a competitive-looking contest, the favourite for the race looks set to be Marquess. 

A consistent operator at this level, he has won over a third of his career starts and certainly knows where the winning line is. Despite his decent strike rate, he is without a win in three, and if you fancy taking him on, it could be worth chancing your arm with Flossing who heads into the race fresh off the back of a career best performance last time out.

Another eight runners have been declared for the second race of the card and once again it looks like a competitive affair. 

Spywire is one of the most experienced horses in the lineup and is taking a dramatic step down in trip here following a poor showing last time out in Group 1 company. 

Having made just five career starts, he has won two races of this nature and could be tough to pass. 

The longest race of the day comes in the third race of the card, and it’s arguably the toughest race of the day to predict. 

Favourite for the race looks likely to be Strawberry Rock. A consistent operator at this level, he has placed in two of his last three starts but is winless in his last five races.

Yarrawonga could be a player at a price. A winner of two of his last three contests, he looks ready to take another step forward here.

The Handicap action continues to roll, and fourteen runners will head down to post for the Caspers Pies and Pastries Handicap. 

Races of this nature are never easy to call, but Frigid looks to be one for the shortlist. 

A winner of two of her last three starts, her strike rate is close to 50%, and she always seems to give her running. 

Fortunate Kiss and He’ll Rip look like two others capable of pulling off the upset. 

The first Group race of the day comes in the shape of the Group 2 BMD Group Sunline Stakes. 

Nine runners will head down to post, but it looks like Campionessa could take all of the stopping.

A remarkable winner of 11 of her 30 career starts, she was a winner of the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes when last seen and is more than capable of winning races at this level. 

Wishlor Lass is a multiple Group 3 winner and looks ready to make another step up. She is another viable contender. 

In a Group 3 contest, ten horses will head down to post for the Alexandra Stakes, where Mollynickers looks set to start as the heavy favourite.

Without a win in her last four starts, her recent races have seen her race at the very highest level. Despite not winning, she did finish third in the Group 2 Tab Kewney Stakes last time out, and few can match that level of form here.

Certainly is one of the least exposed horses in the race. A winner of two of her five career starts, she was a winner of the Group 3 Mufhasa Stakes last time out and could well follow up.

Fourteen horses will head down to post for the DCE Alister Clark Stakes. A Group 2 contest, $300,000 is on offer for the winner, and the connections of Quintessa will be hoping to get their hands on the prize. 

Boasting a 50% strike rate, she was a winner of the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic a month ago and looks to have another great chance of winning another major prize here.

Basilinna can’t boast the same winning form as Qunitessa, but she holds a strong chance. She finished third in the Victoria Oaks and could be one of the best value options of the day.

The feature race of the day comes in the 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes. A Group 1 contest, ten horses will head down to post.

Imperatriz’s long Group 1 run winning streak came to an end when she could only finish second in the Yulong Newmarket Handicap.

She easily boasts the best form in the race, and her connections will hope for a swift return to the winner’s circle. 

Cylinder was the horse that ended Imperatriz’s winning run and he will be hoping to inflict another defeat on his more illustrious rival. 

The final Group race comes in the penultimate race of the day. 

Another competitive contest awaits, where Inhibitions looks likely to start as the slim favourite. A horse that usually gives her running, she isn’t the most prolific winner but should give backers a good run for their money.

Whilst Diamond Decorator doesn’t have the form of others, she heads into the race fresh off the back of two consecutive wins, and her connections will hope that she can bag the biggest race of her career here.

With the Group action having concluded, Saturday’s card ends with another competitive handicap. 

Despite the presence of fourteen horses, Grand Impact is likely to jump off as the favourite. Having only had four starts, he has won three of them but found life in Group 1 company difficult last time out.

Looking to bounce back, he looks to have found the perfect race and will be confident of a big showing