Holler Set For G1 William Reid

Time/Date - 21.15hrs local time/Thursday, March 24, 2016
Raccourse/Country - Moonee Valley/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/1200m

Holler lines up for his second G1 victory for the month and a lofty position in Godolphin's Australian rankings when he runs in the G1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Thursday, March 24.

After leading the stable to its first victory at the top level for 2016, Holler (John O'Shea/James McDonald) has the chance to become the star of the team in a race won twice in recent years by the world champion sprinter Black Caviar.

Holler established a new peak performance at his most recent start, taking out the G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, reaching a level trainer John O'Shea always believed he could.

"He's a horse we've always had a very high opinion of and to see him win a G1 race as he did was a huge thrill for the whole team," O'Shea said.

"The Melbourne stable did a great job with him early in this preparation and sent him back to us in Sydney in fantastic order. Now he's going back to Melbourne and running at a track that he really enjoys."

Last Spring Holler won the G3 Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley and at his first run of this preparation he won the G2 Australia Stakes at the same track before going on to win the Canterbury Stakes.

Holler meets a strong field in the William Reid, including the dual G1 winner Flamberge and the recent G1 Newmarket Handicap winner The Quarterback, but O'Shea is confident he is up to the task.

"He's established himself as a genuine G1 horse and he's still on the way up," O'Shea said.

"His Moonee Valley record is outstanding, which should work a lot in his favour."

Victory in the William Reid would take the record of the son of Commands to five wins from 11 starts and lift his racetrack earnings to almost $1 million.