3 minute read

Moonee Valley Racing Club chief executive Michael Browell is disappointed that a number of potential runners in The All-Star Mile are not among the small field to contest the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Friday night.

The Valley hosts the $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) on March 13 and Browell thought Friday night's sprint could be the perfect start point for an All-Star Mile contender. 

A field of six, headlined by Godolphin sprinter Viridine  and Group 1 winner Streets Of Avalon , has accepted for Friday night's race, timed to run at 8pm. 

Quality for this year's field is down on previous years, but Browell pointed out there was only six runners when Thronum won 2018. 

Last year's race, won by Scales Of Justice , attracted a field of nine, but had five individual Group 1 winners. 

"I think it's all a bit of a quirk with the calendar," Browell told RSN927. 

"If we go back three years, Thronum won when there was six runners and we've only got six acceptors on Friday night, which is disappointing. 

"Go back 12 months and we had five individual Group 1 winners and we had a field of nine. Go back a little bit further than that and Black Caviar won the race twice. 

"It was positioned well enough and the prize money was good enough to attract Black Caviar through her halcyon days. 

"I think being on January 22, it's almost one week earlier than what it could potentially be, so if the calendar was a day different, we would be running this race on January 28. 

"Is it four or five days too early? There has been a lot of racing, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Caulfield coming up. 

"What is disappointing is those horses heading towards The All-Star Mile, they're not here kicking off their campaigns." 

The Australia Stakes originally had five nominations when entries closed on Monday, growing to nine after they were extended until Tuesday morning. 

Browell said the club was considering a number of programming issues and does not want to be making any kneejerk reactions. 

"It can be a little hit-and-miss this race at this time of the year, but I'm not going to throw it out on the back of a six-horse race on Friday night," he said. 

Godolphin's Virdine is the early $1.85 favourite with Streets Of Avalon at $5 and Tavisan next pick at $6.