Moonee Valley: G1 William Reid S., $1,000,000, 1200m
Boom mare Marabi (I Am Invincible) seeks to extend her picket fence to eight, having elevated to Group 1 level last time out with a hard-fought win in the Oakleigh Plate.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have done a brilliant job with the speedy mare this preparation, guiding her from a benchmark race at Ballarat in November into her first two stakes success and then Group 1 glory.
She was a dominant winner on this track and distance in the G2 Australia S. having never been headed from barrier rise and the weight-for-age conditions of this race mean she stays at the same 56.5kg. She should cross easily from barrier eight and prove very difficult to run down.
Jonker (Spirit Of Boom) was able to win the G1 Manikato S. here in the spring in exactly that fashion. The 6-year-old entire heads to this race second-up, beaten some 5.4l by Marabi in the Oakleigh Plate last month. He should be right outside that mare in the run, but from barrier 14 is likely to have to work early, making a repeat of that Manikato win unlikely.
The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) ran a couple of excellent races at Moonee Valley in the spring, winning the G2 McEwen S. and then being only narrowly beaten in the G1 Moir S. He found the Flemington straight not to his liking at this first run for 2022 and has been freshened up for this race by trainer Cliff Brown.
September Run (Exceed And Excel) showed a pleasing return to form with her third in the G1 Newmarket H. and was fourth in this race last year. She was also third behind The Inferno in the G2 McEwen S. and will be the one getting home strongly in what should prove a reasonably quickly run race.
Generation (Snitzel), Marabi's stablemate, is the best of the 3-year-old chances in the race having looked good against his own age in two races at Caulfield this time in. He was a good winner of the G3 Red Anchor S. on Cox Plate Day last year over this track and distance.
G2 Sunline S., $300,000, 1600m
Flying Mascot (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has been in a rich vein of form this time in, winning back-to-back Group races at Caulfield and Flemington for her trainer Tom Dabernig. Her one trip to this track resulted in a 4.25l romp in the G3 Tesio S. over this track and distance last spring and it would be a surprise to see her get beaten here.
Barb Raider (Rebel Raider) is the X-factor, given she has been beating up on the fillies this time in, winning both the G3 Vanity S. and the G2 Kewney S. She is a very consistent filly building a great record, although she has never been tried at this track, which is somewhat of a query.
Quantum Mechanic (Deep Field) won this race last year but hasn't been able to win again since. She is rarely far away, especially at this class, and will have come on significantly from her fourth in the G3 Frances Tressady S. earlier this month.
Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt) has the best credentials of any of these mares, as a dual Group 1 winner, but hasn't been able to find her form on the wet tracks of Sydney this autumn. It wouldn't surprise to see a much-improved effort in better conditions on Friday night.
G3 Alexandra S., $200,000, 1600m
Clinton McDonald looks to have found a stable star in Ancient Girl (NZ) (Toronado {Ire}), who was simply brilliant in winning the Listed Morphettville Guineas last time out. The margin of victory, 2.6l, flattened her rivals and she looks capable of making progression to the top level fairly quickly based off that.
So You See (So You Think {NZ}), trained by Michael Moroney, is her main threat. She was great when fourth in the G3 Kewney S. beaten only a small margin at what was just her second start. She lacks race experience but does have plenty of talent.
Bon's A Pearla (Bon Hoffa) loomed as the winner of the G1 Australian Guineas last time, but just peaked on her run late. Kevin Corstens has this filly in excellent form and while there is a slight query about her over the 1600 metres, she will be closing off late.
Daisies (Sebring) progressed quickly at her first campaign, winning the G3 Ethereal S. at just her third start and while the mile might be a bit short for her, she did close-off stylishly into fourth over 1400 metres at her first-up run.
She was beaten by Fortunate Kiss (Divine Prophet) in that race and that filly, trained by Daniel Bowman, also fronts here, so must be conceded a chance.
Listed Valley Pearl, $160,000, 1200m
The Adam Trinder-trained Bello Beau (Brazen Beau) has been the best 2-year-old in Tasmania this season, winning a pair of stakes races and heads into this race fresh off a tune-up trial win at Longford.
The Peter Moody-trained filly Nanagui (Sebring) looks the main rival having been runner-up in her two races to date, both of them at Group 3 level. A repeat of those efforts would see her hard to beat in this race.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Crosswinds (Written Tycoon) was an easy winner at Ballarat on debut, albeit against a small field. He got things all his own way on speed that day and this might be a bit more pressure for him. As a $1.1 million Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale-topper, there is considerable expectation on him.
Psychiatrist (Exceed And Excel), another $1 million-plus colt, mixed it with the better Sydney 2-year-olds for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou last time out and heads south in search of a Good track.
Albury: Listed Albury Gold Cup, $200,000, 2000m
Entente (Dundeel {NZ}) shoots for back-to-back Albury Gold Cup victories for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. He hasn't been at his best this time in but has battled to get on his preferred firm ground, which he does here.
Mark Newnham's Harmony Rose (Glass Harmonium {Ire}) has also been tackling better company on Heavy tracks and stretches out to the 2000 metres here. She was placed in a G1 Vinery Stud S. the last time she raced at this distance and a first stakes victory would be well-deserved for the very consistent mare.
Sikandarabad (Ire) (Dr Fong {USA}) was a huge run when fourth in the G1 Ranvet S. last Saturday, albeit he was beaten a long way, while his other runs in stakes company have been pretty good this time in.
Maurice's Medad (Maurice {Jpn}) brings a different formline, coming off an eighth in the G1 Australian Guineas. He gets out to 2000 metres for the first time and is in on the minimum weight.
