‘Such a bloody shame’: Moonee Valley track manager Tony Salisbury bemoans untimely rain ahead of Saturday’s 2025 William Reid Stakes day

Moonee Valley track manager Tony Salisbury has blamed untimely rain for a pattern and deterioration at Saturday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes meeting.

Schwarz wins the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at The Valley on Saturday. Picture: George Sal / Racing Photos

Moonee Valley track manager Tony Salisbury has attributed a pattern and deterioration last Saturday to untimely rain in the lead-up to the Group 1 William Reid Stakes meeting.

The Valley had nine millimetres of rain to 9am Friday and then morning showers added another 2.5mm to the tired surface, which no longer drains as efficiently or effectively.

The conditions suited leaders and horses on or close to the speed inside the last 400m.

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“The old track can’t really cop the rain anymore,” Salisbury said.

“Had we had that rain on Tuesday it would’ve been a different story.

“Thursday afternoon we were hitting about 23 per cent moisture and we were rapt, we were looking at probably Good 4 and then that rain hit.

“So close to a meeting and with no drying at all (Friday) … it’s just tired and it happens every year for this meeting and that’s what makes it such a bloody shame.”

Schwarz claims his maiden Group 1 victory, charging to the lead from the gates & roaring away from his opposition in the William Reid Stakes 🙌@jamieleemott earns a deserving third taste at Group 1 success, standing high in his irons!@JohnOSheaRacingpic.twitter.com/JMLOaMISis

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 22, 2025

• What the jockeys said: 2025 William Reid Stakes

The track held its Soft 5 rating through six races before a downgrade at 3.17pm.

“It was a culmination of a number of things that led to the downgrade, even at the start of the day it was probably that half a rating teetering between Soft 5 and 6,” Salisbury said.

“It’s disappointing it’s marked out, there’s no hiding that, but given the workload the old track has got its unfortunate but it is what it is.”

Salisbury hopes for kinder weather ahead of The Valley’s last race meeting this season, on April 26, before the annual winter break.

The Valley has seven meetings next season, culminating in the Cox Plate, before demolition and redevelopment works.