THE 2021 ALL-STAR MILE LINE-UP IS THE BEST FIELD ASSEMBLED FOR THE $5 MILLION RACE TO DATE
By Matt Moore | Thursday, March 11, 2021
MATT MOORE'S PREVIEW OF THE ALL-STAR MILE
It is billed as a race like no other. The bulk of the field is made up by public vote and it is a race that has everyone excited. Now in its third year, The All-Star Mile is becoming one of the country’s most popular races and this year’s field is the best assembled to date.
In the inaugural edition in 2019, a runner from Tasmania came over to Flemington and took the spoils. That horse was Mystic Journey. Last year’s edition was across town at Caulfield and it was one of the first meetings affected by COVID. No crowds were on course to see the Wizard from the West, William Pike, salute aboard Regal Power.
The event returns to the inner western suburbs for 2021 with The Valley the venue. Track conditions will be a Good 4 with the rail in the True Position the entire circuit.
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Let’s have a look at the feature race in more detail:
MOONEE VALLEY - RACE 8. THE $5M ALL-STAR MILE AT WFA CONDITONS
Speed will be set by Greysful Glamour from Gate 11. Streets of Avalon from Gate 14 to cross over and join her upfront. Still A Star to also push over and potentially sit 2nd pair or 3rd pair, 2 or 3 off the rail. Shout The Bar should get a lovely run on speed from Gate 6. Behemoth and Russian Camelot drew gates 1 and 2 respectively and will settle off midfield along with Probabeel from Gate 10. Pike has options on Arcadia Queen from the 5 gate. I’m expecting her to settle just off midfield.
The Valley is a particularly tight circuit with a straight of only 180m. Moves are made at the 600m mark along the school side and you want to be either leading or on the pace into the home turn with the short straight.
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The All-Star Mile Class for 2021:
No 1 Sir Dragonet
The winner of last year’s Cox Plate at the track who then went onto to finish 6th in the Melbourne Cup. He resumed here a hot favourite in the C F Orr Stakes, but found the tempo too quick finishing near the back of the field. Prefers the sting out of the track.
No 2 Behemoth
Winner of back-to-back Group 1’s last campaign in the Memsie and the Sir Rupert Clarke. Both of those were at Caulfield over 1400m. David Jolly then took him up to Sydney where he finished that campaign in The Everest where he raced too eagerly finishing 10th. He began this campaign at Morphettville blowing the field away in the Durbridge Stakes then came back to Caulfield in another 1400m run, the Group 1 Futurity running 4th. He’s won 3rd up previously along with his only run at the track. Draws the pole and should settle midfield.
No 3 Streets Of Avalon
Back-to-back wins to kick off this campaign in the G2 Australian Stakes, at this track over 1200m, then the C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield over the 1400m. He came up against a stronger field 2 weeks later in the Group 1 Futurity where the tempo was a lot quicker than the Orr.
No 4 Mr Quickie
He took out the G1 Toorak Hcp at Caulfield at a nice price last prep. He resumed running 3rd in the Futurity this prep. Does boast 2 wins second up from 5, but the wide gate he has drawn and the map looks sticky.
No 5 Star Of The Seas
He’s tackling the tight circuit that is The Valley for the first time in his 28 career starts. Third up here with good form when 3rd up (4 starts with 1 win and 2 placings). Fourth in the Express at Rosehill which was won by Savatiano. Returned to his home track at Flemington to take out the Blamey Stakes at the mile.
No 6 Mugatoo
One of the main chances. Finished off his last campaign running 2nd to Mirage Dancer in The Metrop at Randwick before a good showing in the Cox Plate, finishing 4th. Began this prep in the Apollo Stakes hitting the line well and finishing 5th, but he gave them too much of a start. The extra trip and wider gate should help.
No 7 The Harrovian
Team Edmonds sent this boy down to Melbourne after 11 successive wins in Queensland. He tackled the G3 Shaftsbury Ave where he couldn’t find galloping room in the straight finishing midfield. The mile is his sweet spot with 2 wins and 2 placings from 5 attempts. Look for Brad Stewart to ride him closer to the speed.
No 8 Regalo Di Gaetano
The rank outsider. Should find it hard to compete here but does have 3 wins from his 5 attempts at the mile.
No 9 Russian Camelot
All of his runs last prep were in Group 1’s winning 1 and placing in 3. His only flop was the Melbourne Cup where he couldn’t run out the 3200m. Those first four runs last campaign were a 2nd in the Makybe Diva taken out by Fierce Impact, then a win in the Underwood Stakes where he controlled the race. His next runs were in the Caulfield Stakes finishing 2nd behind Arcadia Queen where the ground was a touch firm for him and a 3rd in the Cox Plate. Damian Oliver sticks with the champion from Gate 2.
No 10 Arcadia Queen
The race favourite with the Wizard aboard in Willie Pike who rode her a treat in the Spring for all but one race. Third in the Underwood, winner in the Caulfield Stakes, 5th in the Cox Plate then took out the Mackinnon on Stakes Day last year with Luke Currie aboard. Pikey and the Mare then reunited to run 2nd in the Group 1 Futurity won by Probabeel. She was the immediate gate inside Probabeel in that race and draws even softer here. Unbeaten 2 from 2 when 2nd up.
No 11 Probabeel
Battling favouritism with Arcadia Queen but is the 2nd favourite at time of writing. How good is she? Four wins from her last 5 starts. Those wins were the Group 3 Ritchie, The Group 1 Epsom, The Group 3 Bellmaine and the Group 1 Futurity. The 3rd up record standouts with 3 wins and and 2nd from 4.
No 12 Shout The Bar
She won the Group 1 Empire Rose at Flemington over the mile on Derby Day and hasn’t been far off in her 2 runs since. A 4th in the Mackinnon a week later before resuming to finish 3rd in the Tressady 2 weeks ago. She’ll get a lovely map sitting on pace.
No 13 Greysful Glamour
Winner of the Empire Rose last prep. Ran 4th in the Mackinnon and 3rd in the Tressady. She’ll create the speed from Gate 11.
No 14 Still A Star
The Tassie Mare comes to the big smoke boasting an impressive record having never finished out of the quinella from her 13 career starts (8 wins and five 2nds). Will have to overcome the widest gate to record a famous win here.
No 15 Lunar Fox
Turned the table on its head winning the Australian Guineas last start over the Mile at $301. Had the blinkers on that day and it proved the difference after finishing 13 lengths behind Tagaloa in the lead up in the CS Hayes Stakes 2 weeks prior.
Emergencies
No 16 Fifty Stars
Ran 2nd behind Star Of The Seas in the Blamey Stakes.
No 17 So Si Bon
Won the March Stakes last week at Flemington.
No 18 Sovereign Award
Scratched
No 19 Affair To Remember
Won the Matriarch last campaign then 2nd in the Ballarat. Highly unlikely to get a start.
Selections
1st - 10 Arcadia Queen
2nd - 11 Probabeel
3rd - 9 Russian Camelot
4th - 6 Mugatoo
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