Some facts about the Group One weight-for-age $500,000 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night:.
* First run in 1925 when won by The Night Patrol who also won the following year.
* Formerly known as the Australia Stakes, it has reverted to its original name of the William Reid Stakes.
* Upgraded to Group One status in 1987 when the Rick Hore-Lacy-trained Canny Lass won.
* Manikato has an unparalleled record winning five in a row from 1979 to 1983.
* Other multiple winners: Flying Halo (1952-53 and 1955); Heros (1934-35), Golden Doubles (1957-58), All Shot (1973-74); Apache Cat (2008-09).
* Other notable past winners include Heroic (1927), Gothic (1929), Waltzing Lily (1933), Tranquil Star (1946), Comic Court (1951), Star Affair (1966), Winfreux (1968), Dual Choice (1972), Toy Show (1977), Family Of Man (1978), River Rough (1985), Campaign King (1986), Vo Rogue (1988), Zeditave (1989), Grand Archway (1999), Miss Andretti (2007), Apache Cat (2008).
* Winning jockeys with rides this year: Craig Newitt – True Persuasion (Miss Andretti 2007); Damien Oliver – Master Harry (Apache Cat 2009).
* No trainer with a runner this year has won the race before.
* Three-year-olds have won eight of the last 15 William Reid Stakes. Hinchinbrook, Master Harry, Crystal Lily and Panipique represent that age group this year.
AAP TURF
