Australia: Marabi short price in William Reid Stakes to extend win streak

Marabi is 3-5 to win Friday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne and extend her unbeaten record to eight races. Last year on the Reid undercard, Marabi won a handicap and didn’t run again until November. In recent months, Marabi has won three stakes, including her Group 1 debut in the Oakleigh Plate at 5 1/2 furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse on Feb. 26.

The purse of the Reid Stakes has been doubled this year, and is worth $748,400. Marabi is an odds-on favorite in a full field of 14. A 5-year-old mare by I Am Invincible, Marabi is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

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The mare has won from a stalking position. Marabi has won three times at 5 1/2 furlongs and four times at six furlongs.

Marabi was such a short price that The Inferno, a 5-year-old gelding who has won 9 of 14 starts, was the second choice in early betting on Wednesday at 16-1. The Inferno was a Group 2 winner at five furlongs at Moonee Valley last September, but was eighth of nine in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at five furlongs at Flemington in a top-class field on Feb. 19.

The Albury Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Albury Racecourse on Friday drew a competitive field of 12.

Harmony Rose, seventh and sixth in group stakes earlier this year, was the 5-2 favorite on Wednesday, and should appreciate a drop in class. A winner of 3 of 13 starts, Harmony Rose is a 4-year-old filly who was second and third in Group 1 races last March and April.

Harmony Rose must beat Entente, who won the 2021 Albury Cup, but was last of six in a tough running of the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens on March 19. Verry Elleegant, the winner of the Melbourne Cup last November and the reigning Australian Horse of the Year, was second in the Ranvet to the multiple stakes winner Montefilia.

Entente, a 5-year-old gelding, is a two-time group stakes winner.

Albury has an eight-race program beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Pacific on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.