Racing Victoria’s feature pop up race All Star Mile is running out of potential runners
With just five days until the fourth instalment of the $5 million All Star Mile, Racing Victoria is in a scurry to find enough horses to make up the final field of 15.
Of the top ten horses originally voted into the field, five of them will not take their place in Saturday’s 1600m feature at Flemington, with Chris Waller announcing that neither Verry Elleegant or Espiona will be in the race. Neither will Behemoth, Elephant and Lighthouse take their place in the race.
Wildcard winners Tofane, Sierra Sue, Pinstriped, Lightsaber and Inspirational Girl are all expected to take their place, however the Maher & Eustace stable are yet to decide if Australian Guineas winner Hitotsu will line up.
The colt was given a wildcard after his emphatic victory in the Guineas on February 5, but with the Rosehill Guineas on the same day as the All Star Mile, he is only a fifty percent chance of lining up in Melbourne where he is a two time Group 1 winner.
With two spots in the final field still to be decided and potentially one more spot set to become available should Hitotsu head north, Racing Victoria are desperate need to find enough gallopers to fill the field.
Captivant is likely to be promoted into the field, as he is the fifth-ranked in prizemoney order, as horses above him – Converge, Colette, Vangelic and Duais – are all look unlikely to accept on Tuesday.
Behind Captivant is last year’s All Star Mile fourth placegetter Lunar Fox, Streets Of Avalon, Hungry Heart, Hinged and Forgot You, while Chris Waller’s three-year-olds Coastwatch and Fangirl are next in line.
The following trio were all winners on Saturday – Flying Mascot, Barb Raider and Just Folk – so connections will be hoping for natural attrition to gain a start.
Zaaki is currently a dominant favourite for the feature at $2.70 with horse betting sites, ahead of I’m Thunderstruck ($7), Inspirational Girl ($7.50) and Pinstriped ($7.50).