All-Star Mile: Flit set to lead Godolphin’s charge in $5m race

Godolphin is leaning towards three-year-old filly Flit taking a spot in the All-Star Mile in preference to stablemates Alizee and Avilius. LATEST BETTING

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Godolphin is leaning towards three-year-old filly Flit taking a spot in the All-Star Mile on Saturday week in preference to stablemates Alizee and Avilius.

With the scratching of Catalyst from the All-Star Mile because of fetlock bruising, one of the emergencies will come in.

Godolphin has the first three: Alizee, Avilius and Flit — in that order.

Alizee is running at Randwick on Saturday in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and Avilius will take his place in the Australian Cup at Flemington.

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Flit is favoured to get the nod to run in the All-Star Mile. Picture: AAP

Trainer James Cummings said the stable would get through this weekend before confirming an All-Star Mile runner, but if it was Flit, Damian Lane would ride her.

If Godolphin has only one starter, the next horse would be West Australian Regal Power, also an Australian Cup runner.

Super Seth, who is in the All-Star Mile field, has been scratched from Saturday’s Randwick Guineas because of an elevated temperature and abnormal blood profile.

Anthony Freedman had declared that if the colt ran in the Guineas, he wouldn’t run the All-Star Mile. He will monitor Super Seth’s health and then announce revised plans.

🇦🇺 “Godolphin is leaning towards running 3YO filly Flit in the All-Star Mile, however we are going to get through this weekend with three possible candidates before confirming a runner, should they gain their spot. If Flit runs, Damien Lane will ride.” - James Cummings pic.twitter.com/5hVV5eEs7Q

— Godolphin (@godolphin) March 4, 2020

YOUNG GUN RULED OUT OF ALL-STAR MILE

Leo Schlink and Nathan Exelby

Star Kiwi three-year-old Catalyst has been withdrawn from the $5m All-Star Mile after bruising was found in the gelding’s fetlocks.

Trainer Clayton Chipperfield advised stewards of the results of veterinary tests on Catalyst and confirmed the gelding will head back to New Zealand for a spell.

Owner Dick Karreman is hopeful Catalyst, who was among the favourites for the All-Star Mile at Caulfield on March 14, would make a full recovery.

“We knew there had to be something wrong after that race,” Karreman said of Catalyst’s unplaced run in last Saturday’s Australian Guineas behind Alligator Blood.

Catalyst will head back to New Zealand after finishing sixth in the Australian Guineas. Picture: AAP

“We will take him home and put him away.

“We will give him time, have a nice slow build up, and build up his muscular system again.

“It’s unfortunate, but there will be plenty more opportunities for him.

“The main thing is to look after him now and let’s make sure we’ve got a horse going into the future.”

The All-Star Mile will feature 10 individual Group 1 winners after Black Heart Bart, Streets Of Avalon and Fierce Impact were awarded wildcards into the world’s richest 1600m race.

The trio was joined as wildcard inclusions by last Saturday’s Group 2 Blamey Stakes winner Fifty Stars and Australian Guineas runner-up Superstorm.

Feature Race: All-Star Mile (Caulfield 14/3) - Catalyst (NZ) has been officially withdrawn from the race. Trainer Clayton Chipperfield advises that veterinary tests today have revealed bruising to the horse’s four fetlocks. Catalyst will now be spelled.

— RVStewards (@RVStewards) March 3, 2020

Catalyst going home with bruised fetlocks, vet check at Ballarat confirmed it. Clayton Chipperfield just happy it’s not something worse. “He has had a great season and he will come back better. “Love to target the Golden Eagle with him.”

— Michael Guerin (@GuerinSports) March 3, 2020

The 15-horse field the March 14 contest at Caulfield is comprised of 10 runners voted in by public ballot and five wildcards chosen by the All-Star Mile selection panel.

Three-year-old champion Alligator Blood, Super Seth, Dalasan and Superstorm are the youngest runners in the race, while Lindsey Smith’s remarkable nine-year-old Black Heart Bart is the oldest.

David Hayes has decided to run Fifty Stars in Saturday’s Australian Cup in search of Group 1 status and hopes the import can recover to contest the All-Star Mile a week later – his third run, potentially, in three weeks.

Alligator Blood topped the public voting with more than 18,000 votes – almost 7000 more than Kiwi star Melody Belle.

Meanwhile, Hugh Bowman has been locked in to ride Kolding in the All Star-Mile.

LATEST BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS

Place will go to a provisional emergency - currently in order Alizee -Avilius-Flit-Dream Force-Regal Power in that order. Owner Ambassador remains a lock with John Kaye of Brisbane QLD https://t.co/FZgoREdtp4

— Greg Carpenter (@RVCarps) March 3, 2020

ALL-STAR MILE TOP-10 VOTE WINNERS

Alligator Blood (David Vandyke)

Melody Belle (Jamie Richards)

Kolding (Chris Waller)

Star Missile (Greg Eurell)

Dalasan (Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas)

Catalyst (Clayton Chipperfield) — WITHDRAWN

Mr Quickie (Phillip Stokes)

Aristia (Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra)

Heart Of Puissance (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace)

Super Seth (Anthony Freedman)

Alligator Blood is the favourite for the All-Star Mile. Picture: AAP

RACE WINNERS (AUTOMATIC ENTRY)

Streets of Avalon (Shane Nichols)

Fifty Stars (David Hayes, Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig)

WILDCARDS

Fierce Impact (Matthew Smith)

Superstorm (Grant & Alana Williams)

Black Heart Bart (Lindsey Smith)

PROVISIONAL EMERGENCIES

Alizee (James Cummings)

Avilius (James Cummings)

Flit (James Cummings)

Dreamforce (John Thompson)

Regal Power (Grant & Alana Williams)

Kings Will Dream (Chris Waller)

Originally published as All-Star Mile: Flit set to lead Godolphin’s charge in $5m race