Lucky Hussler is favourite to win his second William Reid Stakes, Melbourne’s final Group One race of the season.
The Darren Weir-trained gelding won the weight-for-age sprint 12 months ago and goes into Thursday night’s Moonee Valley race off a 40-day break since his luckless second in the C F Orr Stakes.
Lucky Hussler and Holler opened equal favourites on Wednesday at $4 but Lucky Hussler has firmed to $3.40 in the TAB’s market with three-year-old Holler at $4.20.
Holler is unbeaten in his two Moonee Valley starts, including the Group Two Australia Stakes in January, and returns to Melbourne racing after winning the Group One Canterbury Stakes at Randwick last start.
The Chris Waller-trained Japonisme is at $6.50 while fellow three-year-old Kinglike, one of two runners for Peter Moody, is at $7.50.
Moody will also saddle up $13 chance Flamberge in his attempt to leave the racing industry on a Group One high.
The trainer begins a six-month suspension for a cobalt offence after Thursday and says he has no intention to return in the foreseeable future.
