All-Star Mile 2020: Big guns jostle for wildcard spots in $5m race
Herald Sun racing experts Michael Manley and Gilbert Gardiner cast an eye over the contenders and horses flying under the radar for a shot at the $5m All-Star Mile. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE
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With only nine days left to vote in the $5m All-Star Mile, Herald Sun racing experts Michael Manley and Gilbert Gardiner cast an eye over the contenders and horses flying under the radar.
MM: Things are hotting up, Gil, and there’s lots of strategies in play by connections to secure votes. But they’d want to get cracking as there’s plenty of good horses well down the voting ladder.
ALL-STAR MILE: VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE HORSE
GG: Strategy shhm-ategy, Mickey Mantle. The best horse – or shall I say best chance of winning the race – is not even in the top 10 just yet! Surely the powers that be will see the light and put a wildcard in the mail, addressed: Super Seth, c/o A. Freedman, PO Box Flemington Racecourse.
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MM: Yes GG. He needs to be there, though Freedman has shown scant interest in the concept. He did ask when the race was after Super Seth won last week so that’s a step in the right direction. The three-year-olds are the backbone of this year’s Mile, and if he wants to prove he’s the best he should line up again against Catalyst and Alligator Blood. Only one of the top 10 is running on Saturday at caulfield — Begood Toya Mother.
GG: Let’s not get distracted by semantics. If the Freedman camp is preparing Ringerdingding for the Mile, why not fill the float and take Super Seth for a ride. If nothing else, they might do the field a favour in giving top votegetter and favourite Alligator Blood a fright.
MM: We’ve forgotten about another three-year-old Heart of Puissance who is in the top 10 of voting. His owners have worked hard to secure votes and his is one of the great campaigns this year along with Aristia, Mr Quickie and Gold Fields, and of course Star Missile.
GG: Maybe Racing Victoria should stump up another $5 million and run two Miles on the day, because there’s a good 15 horses outside the cut line.
MM: That’s a good point. Why not run a consolation race as well? There’s so many good horses who aren’t high up in the voting. Castelvecchio, Scales Of Justice, Alizee, Kings Will Dream, Fierce Impact, Avilius, Cape Of Good Hope, Danceteria and Chief Ironside.
GG: Oh, and let’s not forget FIDELIA! It is a real shame rules only allow one vote per person because our intrepid all-round sports guru Glenn McFarlane would want to vote 1000 times for the grey!
MM: Macca loves that horse, though he may have fallen a little out of love last spring. There’s country-trained horses Admiral’s Joker, Harbour Views, Guizot, Rox The Castle and Ken Keys’ pair of Soul Patch and Spanish Reef trying to get in.
GG: That’s and well and good, but if the rain comes – I mean a proper deluge – we have got to include Jungle Edge. Has anyone checked if he is actually a duck in horse clothing?
MM: People are sitting back and waiting to vote but if Mandela Effect can win the Lyons on Saturday in Hobart he’ll come with a big surge to get into the top 10 as Tasmania lost Mystic Journey from the Mile last week.
GG: Our readers want winners, Mick. Give us your early top four.
MM: I think Melody Belle is a star and she’s the one to beat. Also Mr Quickie will fire in the race first-up. Phillip Stokes is training him specifically for the race. The three-year-olds Alligator Blood and Catalyst. Kolding loves a big race.
GG: Do you need tweezers to get the splinters out? I asked for the top four and you gave me five. Good thing I only need three to jag the trifecta. Super Seth, Catalyst and Melody Belle.
FORGOTTEN FIVE OF ALL-STAR MILE
GILBERT GARDINER’S PICKS
Super Seth
Plans can change with the prized stallion prospect, who has nothing to prove any more. But wouldn’t it be great to see Super Seth take on the best horses from Australia and New Zealand at his pet distance?
Danceteria
Far from disgraced in England behind Enable, the northern hemisphere’s Winx. Then won a nice Group 1 in Germany, before a forgive Australian debut in the Cox Plate. Has the class to win.
Ringerdingding
Will know more after Saturday’s Orr Stakes, but the noted swooper is good enough to run well in the All-Star Mile if he gets into the field. Could he tack onto the back of a Melody Belle and run into the top five?
Alizee
Game in defeat last year and looks to have returned in fine fettle again. Left her run too late in Sydney first-up. But the Blue Army certainly know how to prepare a horse for a grand final.
Spanish Reef
A tough and speedy mare. Will give connections a good sight as she wouldn’t know how to run a bad race — especially over 1600m. Ticks all the boxes for a wildcard.
MICHAEL MANLEY’S PICKS
Dalasan
The colt didn’t lose any admirers last week when third to Super Seth. He’s one of the leading three-year-olds, and South Australia needs a representative.
Scales Of Justice
If he can win the Orr Stakes, surely Lindsey Smith gets his wish and a wildcard entry into the race. Even a placing should go close to securing that.
Fierce Impact
He won two of the big mile races last spring and finished second to Kolding at his other start.
Alizee
She’s not the star we thought she might be, but she’s very good and finished third in this race last year.
Admiral’s Joker
It would be great if rural Victoria could get a runner, and even better if it was a small stable such as that of Kylie Vella. He’s also an above-average galloper.
ALL-STAR MILE — TOP 10
1. Alligator Blood (9359 votes)
2. Star Missile (7580)
3. Melody Belle (6146)
4. Kolding (5117)
5. Catalyst (3167)
6. Heart Of Puissance (3141)
7. Aristia (2990)
8. Mr Quickie (2819)
9. Gold Fields (2641)
10. Begood Toya Mother (2596)
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