Race favourite Alizee has drawn worse than midfield with barrier twelve in the final field for the 2019 $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Alizee, above, has drawn a wide gate in the 2019 All-Star Mile at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
The final field for the inaugural running of the All-Star Mile was released this morning with four emergencies being added to the main fourteen horse field.
Three of the four emregncies, Le Romain (barrier 1), Trap For Fools (11) and Hellova Street (7) have drawn inside of Alizee and the James Cummings trained mare looks likely to start from barrier nine in the fourteen horse All-Star Mile field if there are no scratchings.
Alizee is the winner of her last four starts, including a last start win in the Group 1 $500,000 Yulong Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 23 and is the current $3.20 favourite for the All-Star Miles with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Cummings is pleased with the way Alizee has come through her Futurity Stakes win and the Sepoy mare kept race jockey Hugh Bowman happy when he put her through her paces in a gallop in between races at Flemington last Saturday.
“She felt amazing, has got an amazing stride, very clean-winded and as busy as she is in the prelim, when she gets on the track she really relaxes,” Bowman told the Herald Sun.
“She’s a genuine Group 1 horse. She doesn’t need to take the next step, she just needs to sustain where she’s at.”
“Alizee’s just cruising since that win (in the Futurity Stakes),” Cummings said.
“Make no mistake, that was a hard run that she had, a hard-fought victory.
“I’m sure she will have taken a lot of benefit from that but we haven’t had to pop the hood and check what’s under it since then, she’s just been ticking over nicely.”
Cummings will also saddle up veteran galloper Hartnell (Blake Shinn) who is marked at $11 for the All-Star Mile after drawing in close at barrier two but will probably end up with the inside gate if first emergency Le Romain fails to gain a start.
Hartnell is coming off last start third to Alizee in the Futurity Stakes and Cummings can see the All-Star Mile as a perfect run for the eight year old leading into the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Day One of The Championships on April 6 .
“For Hartnell, it’s the perfect race this campaign for him as a bridging run from the Futurity (Stakes) as well as the Doncaster (Mile),” Cummings said.
“Our focus is on the All-Star Mile because his form has enabled him to gain a wildcard entry.
“And, on account of that, like he was able to win the Epsom last preparation in track record time at Randwick, he gets the opportunity to reproduce in the All-Star Mile at Flemington.
“It’s a track he enjoys. It should be a high-pressure contest and a fascinating race to be a part of.”
Australian Guineas winner Mystic Journey didn’t get any favours at the barrier draw and came up with gate sixteen but is likely to jump from twelve in the final fourteen horse field.
Anthony Darmanin retains the ride on Mystic Journey who gained a wildcard entry into the All-Star Mile after winning the Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2 and has continued to firm in the betting and is the second pick at $3.70.
Final field for the 2019 All-Star Mile (1600m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1213x75x22 | HAPPY CLAPPER | Patrick Webster | Blake Shinn | 9 | 59kg | 118 |
| 2 | 4x24120x53 | HARTNELL (GB) | James Cummings | William Buick | 2 | 59kg | 116 |
| 3 | 111x32x690 | MATERIAL MAN | Justin Warwick | Ms Lucy Warwick | 10 | 59kg | 116 |
| 4 | 11x58160x6 | GRUNT (NZ) | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 15 | 59kg | 113 |
| 5 | 16243111×0 | MOSS ’N’ DALE (NZ) | Peter Gelagotis | Jack Martin (a) | 6 | 59kg | 108 |
| 6 | x33x24103x | FOUNDRY (IRE) | Terry Kelly | John Allen | 17 | 59kg | 101 |
| 7 | 088x596x69 | MAN OF HIS WORD | Dean Krongold | Damien Thornton | 18 | 59kg | 90 |
| 8 | 799×416437 | BALF’S CHOICE | Ryan Balfour | Simon Price | 3 | 59kg | 90 |
| 9 | 14×4321463 | MR MONEY BAGS | Robbie Griffiths | Ben Melham | 5 | 59kg | 82 |
| 10 | 0296933×00 | URBAN RULER | Chris Munce | Jamie Mott | 8 | 59kg | 75 |
| 11 | x16041x111 | ALIZEE | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 12 | 57kg | 116 |
| 12 | 127×421212 | HAWKSHOT | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Mark Zahra | 4 | 56kg | 105 |
| 13 | x41511x111 | MYSTIC JOURNEY | Adam Trinder | Anthony Darmanin | 16 | 54kg | 109 |
| 14 | x111100x13 | AMPHITRITE | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Craig Williams | 14 | 54kg | 105 |
| 15e | 2x17242x28 | LE ROMAIN | Kris Lees | – | 1 | 59kg | 114 |
| 16e | 175216×523 | TRAP FOR FOOLS | Jarrod McLean | – | 11 | 59kg | 110 |
| 17e | x3x70x2121 | HELLOVA STREET | Scott Brunton | Jason Maskiell | 7 | 59kg | 103 |
| 18e | 000x880x04 | HE OR SHE | Michael & Luke Cerchi | – | 13 | 59kg | 95 |
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