Syndicator Wylie Dalziel has enjoyed the excitement of gaining his third starter in the All-Star Mile which will be run for only the fifth time on Saturday.
The Peter Moody-trained Pounding runs in the $5 million race at Moonee Valley after receiving a Wildcard having just missed a start through the public vote.
Dalziel was a part-owner in Mr Quickie who ran ninth in the second running of the All-Star Mile at Caulfield in 2020, then backed-up the following year, but had his hopes dented by a wet track.
“At Caulfield we got a bit too far back, but he hated the wet track at Moonee Valley,” Dalziel said.
“We thought he was a great chance, but he copped a heavy track behind Mugatoo.”
Pounding won’t be lacking for fitness when he lines up on Saturday.
The All-Star Mile will be Pounding 12th start for the campaign which kicked off at Caulfield last July.
“He started off in July last year for a spring campaign, more-so to target those country Cups around the mile to 2000 metres, but we just kept copping wet tracks, which he hates,” Dalziel said.
“We kept him up and once he found some dry tracks, away he went.”
Pounding won three on the trot from December through to February and landed his Wildcard with a last start second to Nonconformist in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Dalziel said Pounding had come good at the right time, although he had hoped for a better draw.
“It’s a big field and although he’s drawn awkwardly, there should be good speed which will suit him,” Dalziel said.
“I’m sure Luke Nolen will be able to weave a bit of magic and get him in the right spot, let him go in the straight and see what he’s got.
“He’s been here before, got around the track without any problems, so that’s a big advantage.
“Moods says he’s bucking his brands off at home, so you wouldn’t know that he is nine or 10 months into the campaign.
“Win, lose or draw he’ll go out, but if you finish in the top 10, there’s a good prize and even in the bottom five there’s a good ticket.
“It’s just good to know that we’ve got another one in the race.”