The 2021 All-Star Mile is finally here!
The All-Star Mile has quickly developed into one of the highlights of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival and we are set for a fascinating race at The Valley on Saturday.
We have analysed every single race and our All-Star Mile Day tips can be found below.
Race 1 – 12:15pm AEDT – Ladbroke It Grand Handicap Classic (2500m)
This is a tricky way to start the day and you can make a case for a number of different runners in this field.
Fanciful Toff was able to return to winning form at The Valley last start and a repeat of that performance would have him right in the mix in this contest.
There isn’t a huge amount of speed in this contest and Teo Nugent should be able to find the front fairly comfortable.
He can turn this into a genuine staying contest and it will take a tough horse to finish over the top of Fanciful Toff.
Race 2 – 1:10pm AEDT – The Valley Pearl (1200m)
Scorched Earth is deserving of her status as a clear favourite in betting for The Valley Pearl.
She chased home Arcaded in the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude and went on to win the South Australian Magic Millions Classic by over five lengths at Murray Bridge last start.
On exposed form she does have a genuine class edge over the rest of this field and she will make her own luck right on the speed with Damien Oliver in the saddle.
Race 3 – 1:25pm AEDT – Xtreme Freight Handicap (2040m)
Blenheim Palace is the value runner in what I think is a much more open betting races than the current market suggests.
He hasn’t been disgraced in either of his race starts in Australia to date and he should now be at peak fitness third-up.
Any give in the surface is an advantage and he will make his own luck right on the speed with John Allen in the saddle.
Race 4 – 2:00pm AEDT – Listed Abell Stakes (1200m)
Ancestry was beaten as favourite in the Oakleigh Plate, but he is well-placed to return to winning form in the Abell Stakes.
There is no horse in this field that has the early speed to be able to go with Ancestry and I think he will have his rivals off the bit and chasing a long way from home.
He has recorded two wins from as many starts at The Valley and six wins from his past eight races.
Race 5 – 2:35pm AEDT – Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (1600m)
There is no doubt that Cherry Tortoni is deserving of his status as an odds-on favourite in the Alister Clarke Stakes.
Nobody missed his fast-finishing effort in the Australian Guineas, when he finished second behind Lunar Fox, and there is no doubt that he is the class horse in this field.
Even though he has won at the track in the past, The Valley does represent some concern for me and Billy Egan will need to ensure that he is up and running a long way from home.
I can’t back him at his current price, only because of his racing style, but I don’t want to be backing against him either.
Race 6 – 3:15pm AEDT – Country Mile Series Final (1600m)
This is easily the most open race of the day and it wouldn’t surprise if we saw a boilover result.
Astraeus is well and truly over the odds at $14.
He is not the most consistent horse in the world, but he is capable of a high-rating performance on his day and I am confident that Daniel Moor will roll forward on him from the wide barrier draw.
The Savabeel gelding will give his rivals something to chase and I think that he is a great each-way bet at his current quote.
Race 7 – 3:55pm AEDT – VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m)
This is the weakest race that Conceited has contested in some time and he may never have a better chance to return to winning form.
He never really got a shot at them at Flemington on Super Saturday and his first-up effort in the Zeditave Stakes was sound.
I think Damian Lane will be able to settle him closer to the speed than he did last start and he will have every possible chance to get the job done.
Race 8 – 4:40pm AEDT – The All-Star Mile (1600m)
The All-Star Mile is absolutely packed full of quality and we are set for a truly fascinating race.
Russian Camelot has been the forgotten horse heading into this contest and he represents terrific value at his current odds.
Only a few starts ago, this horse was being hyped as the second coming of Winx and his Spring Racing Carnival was not as bad as it has been made out to be.
His first-up run in the Makybe Dive Stakes over a mile was terrific and he went on to win the Underwood Stakes, beating Arcadia Queen, in a canter.
Arcadia Queen may have beaten him in the Caulfield Stakes, but he started as a dominant odds-on favourite and he beat his rival home when he finished third in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
A potential wet track at The Valley on Saturday plays right into his favour and it is ridiculous that there is as much between him and Arcadia Queen in the current market.
Probabeel is a bombproof mare and I don’t want to lose on this race if she gets the job done.
She could hardly have been more impressive in the Futurity Stakes and she will be right on the speed in The All-Star Mile.
The only concern for her is a wet track and connections have indicated that they will scratch her from the race if that is the case.
Race 9 – 5:20pm AEDT – Grand Handicap Sprint (1200m)
There doesn’t look to be a huge amount of speed in this field on paper and Jamie Kah might be able to control the race from the outset on The Billionaire.
He has recorded two wins from three starts this campaign and he still has plenty of upside to improve.
Kah will take him straight to the front and it would not surprise to see him kick three lengths clear at the top of the straight.
