All-Star Mile Truly Lived Up to Its Name

In retrospect, it’s crystal clear that the once grudgingly accepted (in some circles) pop-up races are here to stay; while administrators grapple with the vexed question of whether or how they should confer formal black-type recognition, the two key drivers ensuring the longevity of the innovative events are the paying public’s blessing and the sheer class of the racehorses involved. Even the All-Star Mile, with its counterintuitive inclusion of a percentage of publicly voted-for horses that wouldn’t necessarily normally be considered, has proved a masterstroke by virtue of its fan participation. The debate will continue – as well it should – over whether last Saturday’s All-Star Mile was a vintage renewal of the $5 million race. On a program where it is seemed obvious from the early races that back-markers would struggle – particularly those trapped out wide – the All-Star Mile added insult to injury the hapless chasers, courtesy of sheeting rain and concomitant mud splatters. Following the late scratching of Arcadia Queen (Pierro), Probabeel (Savabeel) assumed her position at the head of the boards but connections must have known her goose was well and truly cooked soon after the gates clanged; caught between the devil and the deep blue sea in more ways than one, the mighty mare raced against her natural pattern by attempting to possie up midfield if she were to have any chance under the conditions. Damned if she did and damned if she didn’t, Probabeel duly capitulated, leaving it to Mugatoo (Henrythenavigator) and Russian Camelot (Camelot) who'd saved ground on the fence to wrest control from the brave leader Behemoth (All Too Hard) attempting to make all. It really is a game of inches. Watch Hugh Bowman turn his head twice in quick succession heading through the 300m mark when he realizes he’s been snookered into traffic by Damien Oliver’s circling move aboard Russian Camelot. Without panicking Bowman stayed balanced, pretended the reins were cotton, and cajoled Mugatoo into believing there was a glimmer of a gap. And the takeaway? It really was a vintage All-Star Mile and proved, as always, that in racing you pays for your ticket and you takes your chances – rain, hail or shine.