Mugatoo (Image: Bradley Photos)
It's still 'chips in' on The All-Star Mile for connections of Mugatoo despite narrowly missing the top 10 in voting for the big race.
Andrew Murrell from Australian Bloodstock, the managing owners of the horse, was unaware the gelding had missed a spot when contacted by racing.com on Friday morning and, while disappointed, was immediately optimistic of Mugatoo's chances of gaining a wildcard into the race.
"I'm assuming common sense prevails and they put him in," Murrell said.
The Kris Lees-trained six-year-old finished fifth, beaten 3.5 lengths, in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick last Saturday and, with his best form always being second-up, connections won't consider running him between now and The All-Star Mile on March 13 as they continue to bank on him gaining a start.
"The plan has always been The All-Star Mile and, if he doesn't make it, he doesn't make it, but I would hope sanity prevails and they put him in," Murrell said.
"Arguably he could have won the Cox Plate and he would have been first picked so, without being arrogant, I would find it unusual if he didn't make the field to be honest."
Mugatoo ran fourth in the Cox Plate behind Sir Dragonet, proving his credentials on the tricky Valley circuit where this year's All-Star Mile will be run.
"We're not wanting to go down there to run a nice fifth or sixth, he's only going to have a light campaign and we've got to try and hit the target as many times as we can this prep and those targets are The All-Star Mile and the Queen Elizabeth (Stakes)."
Three wildcards will be awarded into The All-Star Mile field of 15, with the winners of the G1 Futurity Stakes and G2 Blamey Stakes gaining a golden ticket into the race.
Should a top 10 vote-getter win the Futurity on Saturday, an extra spot will be available for the wildcard panel.