Horse racing / Paul Bugeja / 11 February 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Sarah Peatling gives the lowdown on this Saturday's Group 1 William Reid Stakes.

FACT: The Lightning Stakes (1000m) is the key form race for the William Reid Stakes. A total of 5 horses in the last 30 years have won the Lightning and William Reid in the same year, with Apache Cat being the last to complete the double in 2008.

The David Hayes-trained colt Nicconi won this year's Lightning and is looking to become the sixth horse to achieve the feat.

FACT: Twelve horses have won the William Reid first up from a spell in the last 30 years.

Light Fantastic, Master O'Reilly, Mentality, Sniper's Bullet and Turffontein are first up in this year's weight-for-age contest.

Light Fantastic has won first up twice before in his February 2008 maiden (1100m) and 2008 JJ Liston Stakes (1400m), beating home Weekend Hussler and Maldivian. Mentality won first up once over 1200m in the 2007 Group 2 Expressway Stakes.

FACT: Three-year-olds are the most dominant winners in the last 30 years posting 12 wins, compared to older horses (5YO+) who just trail behind with 11 wins. Three-year-olds have won the eight of the last 15 William Reid Stakes.

Shellscrape and Wanted represent the 3YO's in Saturday's line up, while Nicconi, Light Fantastic, Master O'Reilly, Mentality, Sniper's Bullet and Turffontein, represent the older horses.

FACT: The most winning barrier in the last 30 years is barrier one (seven wins), with barrier six the second most successful (four wins) and seven the third (three wins).

This year, Light Fantastic jumps from barrier one, 2007 Caulfield Cup victor Master O'Reilly starts from barrier six and Mentality from barrier seven.

FACT: Group 1 hoops Damien Oliver, Craig Newitt and Steven King have each won this race.

This year they pilot Nicconi, Light Fantastic and Mentality respectively.