Whilst racing fans in Sydney will be treated to a feast of feature racing on Saturday, it’s not all doom and gloom for Melbournians, with the fifth running of the $5m All Star Mile, this year to be run at Moonee Valley Racecourse. The 1600m weight-for-age contest has vastly become a principal race on the Victorian Autumn racing calendar, unsurprisingly with the prize money attached, there are 15 runners, from near and far, who are set to go head to head in this year’s feature.
Looking at the market, Dabble has the Waterhouse/ Bott trained, Alligator Blood, on top at $2.75, off the back of his super first up win in the Futurity Stakes. I’m Thunderstruck is on the second line at $6.00, along with Doncaster Handicap winner, Mr Brightside. These three are the only runners in single figures, with three-year-old, Sheeza Belter, heading the rest at $13.
However, we know anything can happen in horse racing and the tight Valley circuit can be a testing track for many. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2023 All Star Mile along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. I’m Thunderstruck (5) – $6.00
Jockey – Daniel Moor 59kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Runner-up in this race last year who resumed with a solid effort in the CF Orr Stakes behind stablemate, Jacquinot, before an even effort last time out behind Alligator Blood. Small fields of late have played against him and he should appreciate the bigger field and more genuine tempo here. His record at The Valley is good and he’s drawn to get a lovely trip with new jock, Daniel Moor, in the saddle. Can hit back.
2. Alligator Blood (7) – $2.75F
Jockey – Blake Shinn 59kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
The Sky’s the limit 🌅🐎
– Alligator Blood at the All Star Mile gallops @TheValley 🏆💫 pic.twitter.com/SIMSEYdp2q— Vince Caligiuri (@Vinnycenzo_71) March 14, 2023
Dual Group 1 winner last prep alone who resumed in fine style at Sandown three weeks ago, when taking out the Futurity Stakes. Will be stamped urgent again here from the good gate by Shinn and look to control the race but might find a bit more pressure up front. In saying that he’s tough as nails and has a brilliant second up record. Will be in it for a long way.
3. Cascadian (14) – $15
Jockey – Ben Melham 59kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Rising 9YO who was terrific from the back first up in the Canterbury Stakes a fortnight ago. Will be snagged back from the wide draw here and look to have the last crack at them, as he did last year when finishing fifth. The map probably favours a few ahead of him here but it’s hard not to imagine him finishing in the top half dozen.
4. Mr Brightside (2) – $6.00
Jockey – Luke Currie 59kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes
Finished fourth in this race last year behind Zaaki before going on to win the Doncaster Handicap. Both runs back this prep have been outstanding from the back and the mile third up looks ideal. He’s a two time winner here at The Valley and will spend no fuel from the low draw. If the breaks go his way down the side, he’ll be right in the finish.
5. So Si Bon (15) – $91
Jockey – Harry Coffey 59kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes
Old timer who finished sixth in this race in 2020. Recent form has been good by his standards if you can be forgiving of his latest effort behind Nonconformist. With that said, this is a lot tougher, he’s drawn the outside gate and is yet to win at The Valley from six goes. Hard to have.
6. Laws Of Indices (6) – $16
Jockey – Oisin Murphy 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Talented entire who is becoming very costly for loyal followers. With that said, both runs back this prep have been good behind Anamoe and his effort three back behind California Spangle and Golden Sixty is good enough to win this. He’s drawn well and gets star international hoop, Oisin Murphy, in the saddle. Each-way chance but have to take on trust.
All Star Mile morning …. Only @TheValley do they do this better than any other. pic.twitter.com/mtHSdMwDDa
— Tony Ferraro (@tonyferraro3) March 13, 2023
7. Aegon (8) – $31
Jockey – Blaike McDougall 59kg
Trainer – Andrew Forsman
Ran on quite well behind Jacquinot two back in the CF Orr, before an even effort last start in the Futurity. Step up to the mile looks ideal, along with a more genuine run race, but he won’t find this any easier than his past two. Place looks best.
8. Alenquer (9) – $19
Jockey – Jordan Childs 59kg
Trainer – Michael Moroney
Former French galloper who joins the Moroney stables. Latest win came at Group 1 level in the Tatts Gold Cup at Curragh, where he beat home former Cox Plate winner, State Of Rest. He has some very good form around some absolute stars of the turf and is a winner of three from four first up. The mile may be a bit short of his best, but class can take him a long way here and it may pay to follow the market.
9. The Inevitable (3) – $23
Jockey – David Pires 59kg
Trainer – Scott Brunton
Tasmanian star who has now won 16 of his 29 starts, including one here at The Valley. Has strung six wins together this prep, all with David Pires in the saddle, and has a brilliant record at the mile. He’s proven in the past he’s good enough to compete with Victoria’s best and he returns here in the best form of his life. Respect.
10. My Oberon (11) – $31
Jockey – Jamie Mott 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Pulled up with excuses after his first up failure in the Futurity Stakes. Was a brilliant winner of the Crystal Mile here at The Valley first up last prep, before a close up sixth in the Cantala. No doubt he’s good enough to measure up with this field and could be worth another chance here. Improver.
11. Gentleman Roy (10) – $19
Jockey – Daniel Stackhouse 59kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes
First over the line in the CF Orr two back, only to lose the race in the stewards room, before a solid effort in the Blamey last start, in a race that suited those off speed. Will keep Alligator Blood honest up front here and rarely gives in without a fight. Not without a hope.
$5 million up for grabs! 💰
Who wins the fifth @allstarmile? pic.twitter.com/YZE4Jl3xNQ
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 14, 2023
12. Pounding (12) – $34
Jockey – Luke Nolen 59kg
Trainer – Peter G Moody
Strung three wins together, including the Group 3 Carlyon Cup, before another honest effort last time out when second to Nonconformist. Unbeaten in two goes here at The Valley mile but this is by far his toughest test to date. Hard to see him winning but is going well enough to figure in the minor placings.
13. Nugget (1) – $20
Jockey – Damien Oliver 59kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Ran Detonator Jack to a length before winning three on end. Ran a huge race in the CF Orr two back before leading and weakening to finish fifth behind Alligator Blood last start. Wouldn’t mind guessing they take a sit from the rails draw here and won’t be surprised if he runs a cheeky race. Don’t overlook.
14. Keats (4) – $71
Jockey – Craig Newitt 59kg
Trainer – Gavin Bedggood
Pass mark first up in the Carlyon Cup behind Pounding before stealing a break and only being run down late in the Peter Young Stakes last time out. Should get an economical run on speed from the good draw but will find this a lot harder than recent outings and looks a bit outclassed under the weight-for-age conditions.
15. Sheeza Belter (13) – $13
Jockey – William Pike 54kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Ridden upside down and backfired first up in the Light Fingers before a much better effort second up in the Surround Stakes. Punters, myself included, were in the queue and ready to collect at the furlong last Saturday in the Coolmore Classic when she strode up outside the leader at the furlong, only to fall short and go down a neck. No doubt she is flying, but is on the seven day back up here and has to take on some classy older gallopers now.
16e. The Fortune Teller (16) – $71
Jockey – N/A 56kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Ran well in the Autumn Stakes first up before an even effort in the Australian Guineas last time out. Takes on the older gallopers now and looks to be outclassed here.
Final Word
Great race, but pretty keen on one here in I’m Thunderstruck. No, he hasn’t been the kindest horse to punters of late, but feel he’s had excuses in slowly run races/ on speed dominated affairs.
All set to go for The Sharp EIT #AllStarMile barrier draw 🌟@TheValley pic.twitter.com/u4tgJr0fDT
— The Sharp EIT All-Star Mile (@allstarmile) March 14, 2023
He steps up to the mile now, in a bigger field which should generate a stronger tempo, and he loves The Valley. Daniel Moor takes over from Jamie Kah and he won’t have to do much from the gate, other than find cover and let him unleash his dynamite turn of foot on the home turn.
Mr Brightside is the danger for mine. Both runs back this prep have been nothing short of breathtaking and he’s another who should appreciate the step up to 1600m. He’s unbeaten at the Moonee Valley mile and gets the winkers reapplied here. Only concern is the low draw and where he ends up in the run, as he’s been racing better ridden cold.
No knock Alligator Blood, but feel he’ll have a lot more company up front here than recent outings. In saying that, he was super first up in the Futurity and will be rock hard fit, as the Waterhouse/ Bott runners always are.
Laws Of Indices doesn’t win out of turn but is racing well, Alenquer brings some very strong form lines from overseas and a market watch is advised, and both My Oberon and Nugget can improve at odds. Hard to leave the old boy Cascadian out of calculations, after a nice return in the Canterbury Stakes, but will have a bit to do from the wide gate.
All Star Mile Tip
1. I’m Thunderstruck – Win ($6.00)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
