With his catchy name and breathtaking racing pattern, connections are hopeful that budding star Ringerdingding can prove a genuine fan favourite in the countdown to the inaugural The All-Star Mile at Flemington on 16 March 2019.
The last start Sandown Guineas (1600m) winner is the latest big name to be nominated for The All-Star Mile, joining Kennedy Oaks winner Aristia as the three-year-olds amongst the early entries for the world’s richest mile race.
With the top 10 vote-getters from a public vote to secure their place in the lucrative $5 million race, managing part-owner Ricky Surace of B2B Bloodstock believes Ringerdingding has what it takes to impress fans.
“Hopefully Ringerdingding is the King. His name is a good selling point, I know he’s got a lot of fans because of his name already, plus he’s got an amazing turn of foot so I’m hoping that he excites the voters on a few fronts,” Surace said.
Since joining the all-conquering Darren Weir stable prior to the Spring Racing Carnival, Ringerdingding has posted a trio of barnstorming victories from the tail of the field including the Listed Hilton Stakes (1400m) at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week and the Group 2 Sandown Guineas on 17 November.
“We always knew he had ability, but he’s just gone to another level since joining Darren. We weren’t sure how he’d go on the quick back-up in the Sandown Guineas, but Darren was confident and the horse was just brilliant….he’s the real deal alright,” Surace said.
Surace explained that Ringerdingding, who was a $170,000 purchase from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, had blossomed during a well-earned break and is back in readiness for a big autumn in both three-year-old and open company.
“He’s had five weeks out, his first really good break, he’s put on 40 plus kilos and Darren says he just looks magnificent,” Surace said.
“Our plan is to head to the Manfred, then the Orr Stakes, the Australian Guineas and into The All-Star Mile if we can get people behind him and voting him in.”
The Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) will be run for three-year-olds at Caulfield on 3 February, with Ringerdinging’s open age debut pencilled in for the same track, in the Group 1 weight-for-age C.F.Orr Stakes over 1400m on 23 February.
The $1 million Australian Guineas will be run over the same distance and track as The All-Star Mile on 2 March where Ringerdingding is likely to face off with Aristia and his Victoria Derby-winning stablemate Extra Brut.
Nominations for The All-Star Mile close on 15 January with public voting to commence on 21 January. With a field of 14 to be assembled, four wildcards will be chosen by Racing Victoria to join the 10 public voted horses at the mile start at Flemington on 16 March.