The Group 1 All Star Mile (1600m) may have only attracted a field of seven runners at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, but it will feature another meeting between Mr Brightside (+130) and Another Wil (+230), who finished first and second in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield last start.
On that day, the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding got the better of Mr Brightside, finishing over the top of his rival to claim an emotional win for connections of the five-year-old rising star.
However, since that defeat, Mr B returned to Caulfield to claim his ninth Group 1 success of his illustrious career by defending his Futurity Stakes title.
Tom Kitten (+450), who finished an unlucky second place behind Mr Brightside, will attempt to turn the tables from last start when he heads to Flemington second up.
The James Cummings-trained gelding looks like the obvious threat to the top two, as he is expected to enjoy getting out to 1600m and the bigger track at headquarters.
Atishu (+750) from the Chris Waller stable will be the only runner heading down from Sydney to contest the All Star Mile, following her seventh-place finish in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes.
The daughter of Savabeel owns a formidable record at Flemington, recording a victory in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes and a second-place finish behind Cox Plate winner Via Sistina in the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes in her last two starts.
The All Star Mile will be race seven on the Flemington program and is scheduled to jump at 3:30pm AEDT.
2025 All Star Mile Final Field
1. Mr Brightside (5)
- T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 59kg
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Bullbars
- Dam: Lilahjay (NZ)
-222.22
2. Tom Kitten (4)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Ben Melham
- W: 59kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Harry Angel (IRE)
- Dam: Transfers
+150
3. Light Infantry Man (6)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Ethan Brown
- W: 59kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Fast Company (IRE)
- Dam: Lights On Me (GB)
+360
4. Another Wil (1)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Jamie Melham
- W: 59kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Street Boss (USA)
- Dam: Arohanui
-133.33
5. Flying Trapeze (3)
- T: Gary Portelli
- J: Billy Egan
- W: 59kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Trapeze Artist
- Dam: Coromandel
+2700
6. Rise at Dawn (2)
- T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 59kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Almanzor (FR)
- Dam: Kay’s Awake (NZ)
+360
7. Atishu (7)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Damian Lane
- W: 57kg
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Savabeel
- Dam: Posy (NZ)
+240
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