I'm Thunderstruck with the ASM trophy.
The quest for March’s $5 million All-Star Mile at The Valley begins at noon today with the opening of nominations for the fifth edition of the race that is part selected by fans,
Entries for the March 18 feature remains open until Wednesday, January 25, 2023 with just minor changes to conditions from last year when Zaaki was crowned champion.
After nominations close, the public will have their say with Australian and New Zealand residents invited to cast their votes on the official All-Star Mile website from Monday, February 6 through to Sunday, February 26.
In a change from last year, voting now closes just three weeks out from race day, instead of five weeks prior to the race day as in 2022.
Racing Victoria is again pledging to donate the $500 fee for every horse entered for the All-Star Mile to the race’s official charity, the Good Friday Appeal – an annual fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. Over the first four editions of the All-Star Mile, thanks to the support of owners and trainers, close to $200,000 in entry fees has been donated to the Good Friday Appeal.
Matt Welsh, RV’s executive general manager of racing, said: “The All-Star Mile is now firmly entrenched as a key feature race in our Festival of Racing and the exciting build-up continues to be embraced across Australia and New Zealand as fans vote to see their favourite horse participate.
“It’s exciting to return to The Valley again in 2023 and hopefully this year’s aspirants can replicate Mugatoo’s thrilling win over Russian Camelot at the track in 2021 in front of another vocal Valley crowd.
“With nominations now open for the 2023 All-Star Mile, we encourage all trainers and owners to enter their stable stars and give themselves the opportunity to turn a $500 nomination fee into a $2.25 million winner’s cheque at The Valley on 18 March.”
Once the polls have closed on Sunday, February 26, the votes will be verified and counted with the 10 most popular horses announced by RV on or before Tuesday, February 28.
The top 10 vote-getters which accept for the race will be joined in the 15-runner field by five wildcards, with two of those determined by ‘win and you’re in’ races – the G1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday, February 25 and the G2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday, March 4.
The three remaining wildcard runners, which can be drawn from outside the original nominations list, will be selected by the All-Star Mile wildcard panel and revealed on or before Tuesday, March 7.
Once the field has been finalised following the closure of acceptances at 10am, Tuesday, March 14, the barrier draw will take place ahead of All-Star Mile Raceday at The Valley.
There will be only one change to the race conditions for the All-Star Mile 2023, with respect to the withdrawal of a wildcard horse prior to final acceptance time. Previously, the wildcard would be replaced by a provisional emergency, as occurs for the top 10 public-voted selections. In 2023, if a wildcard is withdrawn prior to final acceptances, it will be replaced by another wildcard selection.
The core conditions of the All-Star Mile remain as follows:
- There will be a field of 15 runners, with 10 horses selected by the public vote and five wildcards chosen to supplement them;
- Two of the five wildcards are reserved for the winners of the following ‘win and you’re in’ races (if they choose to accept them):
- Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday, February 25, 2023; and
- Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
- A three-year-old will require a minimum Victorian rating of 70 at the close of nominations to be eligible to run, while four-year-olds and upwards require a minimum Victorian rating of 80.
- To be eligible to run, a horse must have met the following minimum performance criteria between 1 February 2022 and the close of late nominations on 30 January 2023:
- placed first, second or third in a Group or Listed race; or
- placed fourth or fifth in a Group 1 race; or
- have earned $20,000 or more placing first, second, third, fourth or fifth in a flat race.