Hitotsu headlines a trio of three-year-olds who have been granted wildcard entry into this year’s $5 million All-Star Mile.
Racing Victoria on Monday night announced that co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace had accepted the invitation to utilise one of the three wildcards with the colt who won Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
That was his first start since winning the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington last November.
The Peter Moody -prepared Lightsaber, who finished runner-up to Hitotsu in the Guineas, was also granted a wildcard along with the Enver Jusufovic-trained Pinstriped, who also ran in the Guineas but had little luck when finishing fifth.
Racing Victoria’s executive general manager of racing Greg Carpenter said the addition of three-year-olds was significant for the race.
“Hitotsu was impossible to ignore after his win in the Australian Guineas, and despite not winning Lightsaber and the luckless Pinstriped both enhanced their cases for inclusion, especially when viewed in the light of their previous performances,” Carpenter said.
“Three-year-olds boast an outstanding record in The All-Star Mile, with Mystic Journey winning in 2019 and Superstorm going mightily close to upsetting his stablemate Regal Power 12 months later and I have no doubt these three are all capable of continuing that excellent record at Flemington in just under two weeks’ time.”
The announcement of the wildcards means there are just two spots in this year’s race to be confirmed.
Converge was on Sunday offered the position of the injured Elephant, while Colette was on Monday invited to take her place in the race after the Maher/Eustace stable advised Racing Victoria that American mare Lighthouse would not be taking her place.
Connections of Converge and Colette are yet to advise if they will start in the fourth running of the world’s richest 1600-metre event.
The final field for the All-Star Mile, including emergencies, will be confirmed next Tuesday morning when final acceptances are taken with the barrier draw to be conducted that afternoon at Flemington.