Entries for next year’s $5 million All-Star Mile, the richest race run in Victoria in the second half of the season, are now open.
Racing Victoria on Monday started the call for entries for the 1600-metre event, which will next year be run on March 18 at Moonee Valley.
Entries close on January 25 with the voting process that determines the first 10 runners into the field operating from February 6 to 26 with the final field being known no later March 7, which is the deadline for RV’s announcement of wildcards.
Two of those wildcards will go to the winners of the Group 1 Futurity Stakes and Group 2 Blamey Stakes with the other three wildcards issued at the discretion of RV.
RV will again donate each $500 entry fee, and any $2500 late entries, to the Royal Children Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal and is hoping to assemble a field comprising Australasia’s best milers and feel-good stories.
“The All-Star Mile is now firmly entrenched as a key feature race in our Festival of Racing and the exciting build-up continues to be embraced across Australia and New Zealand as fans vote to see their favourite horse participate,” RV’s executive general manager of racing Matt Welsh said.
“Every cent raised through nominations will again be pledged to the Good Friday Appeal, which raises vital funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
“We are excited to see some of the high-profile nominations come through over the coming weeks, but even more so some of the lesser lights from Australasia’s smaller stables whose fairy-tale stories will hopefully capture the public’s imagination and contribute to the success of the race.”
The 2023 All-Star Mile, which for the first time will be run before the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), will be the second run at Moonee Valley, following on from the epic 2021 edition won by Mugatoo.
This year’s winner Zaaki has again been touted as a possible runner and is prominent in most markets with Anamoe, Alligator Blood and I’m Thunderstruck others battling it out for favouritism.
