Babylon Berlin on song for William Reid

Babylon Berlin 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.

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 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, Levante, Imperatriz and Entriviere.

"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.

Manawatu Classic on the cards for Desert Lightning

Group One performer Desert Lightning will likely be given one final run this season before he heads for a spell in preparation for the spring.

The Pride Of Dubai gelding finished eighth last start in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and will return to a more favourable 2000m assignment in the Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic at Awapuni on April 1.

“He just get didn’t get the distance in the Derby,” said Peter Williams, who trains in partnership with his wife Dawn.

“He is doing a quiet bit of work. He might go to the Manawatu Classic.

“We might have a look (at Australia), but he could be starting to get a bit tired.”

Desert Lightning was purchased by his trainers out of Little Avondale Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $150,000.

He has had a pleasing three-year-old term, winning the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), accruing more than $270,000 in earnings.

Meanwhile, Williams will line-up half a dozen runners at Pukekohe on Wednesday, including Pour The Wine, Montand and The Instigator.

“Pour The Wine won at the trials the other day. She should go a good race provided the track doesn’t get too wet,” he said.

“Montand has drawn well (2) provided the track doesn’t get too bad on the inside, and he  has been working well.

“The Instigator has drawn out in 15, but the draw might be a blessing when it comes to his race if is a wet track.”