High quality field for final Melbourne G1

Monday 23 March 2015, 4:33pm

The William Reid Stakes is the final Group One race in Melbourne for the season and has attracted a high calibre group of sprinters.

Among the 23 nominations for Friday night's Moonee Valley feature is the Robbie Griffiths-trained Moonee Valley specialist Angelic Light.

Griffiths is looking to the mare to break his Group One maiden in the 1200m weight-for-age contest.

Angelic Light has raced at Moonee Valley on seven occasions, registering three wins and three minor placings.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor was narrowly beaten by Lankan Rupee in a blanket finish in the Manikato Stakes last October.

Angelic Light then headed to Perth for the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in November, finishing fifth to Magnifisio.

Ideally Griffiths would have preferred Angelic Light to have had a lead-up run but he thought the mare would benefit more from an extended break after Perth.

"Normally I would have a run going into a 1200, but I elected to give her more time after Perth as it stung her legs up a bit," he said.

"She just needed that extra time and I wanted to keep her to the StrathAyr track.

"She's had two trials and some nice gallops.

"She's fit enough to win it with a bit of luck."

Griffiths said Angelic Light had a gallop over 1000m, running the last 600m in a "tick over 35 (seconds)" and would go to the race in good order.

Damien Oliver, who has ridden the mare at her past two outings, will ride.

Among the entries are Group One winners Bel Sprinter, Earthquake, Famous Seamus, Rebel Dane, Tiger Tees and Trust In A Gust.

Fontelina, who went within a nose of beating Spirit Of Boom a year ago, is entered for also entered for the Star Kingdom Stakes at Rosehill.

– AAP

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