Babylon Berlin on song for William Reid

[Wandering Eyes]

Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) will be out to shed her perennial bridesmaid tag when she heads to The Valley on Friday for the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m).

The mare has finished runner-up in her three Group One assignments this year, two of which were taken out by Saturday race rival Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).

She returned to her winning ways last start when demolishing her rivals in the Gr.3 Kings Plate (1200m) by seven lengths at Te Rapa earlier this month and looks to be on song for this weekend’s assignment.

The mare worked alongside the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained A Case Of You (Hot Streak) at Moonee Valley on Monday morning and trainer Ben Foote was pleased with what he saw.

“I couldn’t have been happier with her gallop. She likes to run a bit and she left the other horse behind,” Foote told Racing.com.

“You could say I was happy with her work and also with the track, which will suit her.

“She was really strong to the line and Fred Kersley rode her. He thought she’s going really well.”

Foote said he has eyed the Melbourne trip with his mare for some time, particularly given her key Kiwi rivals’ success in Australia, having measured up against the likes of Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto), Levante (NZ) Proisir), Imperatriz and Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock).

“She’s right up to them and it’s a bit enticing coming to Moonee Valley, which should suit her style of on-speed racing,” he said.

“She was always going to come over for this race. Mares like her have been measuring up in Australia and there’s nothing left for her in New Zealand, so the only option was to come over here.”

Following Friday’s assignment, Babylon Berlin will head to Perth where she will run in the A$4 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse next month.

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