The race to secure a start in the 2024 All-Star Mile turns to Queensland this weekend with the first ever ‘Win and You’re In’ race conducted outside Victoria.
The winner of the $3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on Saturday (13 January) will secure a coveted start in the $4 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield on 16 March.
The Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas is the second of eight ‘Win and You’re In’ races as a part of a revamped selection process for Victoria’s premier mile race.
It will see one of the stars of Queensland’s biggest raceday get their opportunity to shine in the All-Star Mile which has proven a happy hunting ground for three-year-olds.
Three-year-old filly Mystic Journey was triumphant in the inaugural All-Star Mile in 2019, with Superstorm runner-up the following year in the only edition held at Caulfield to date.
With the Group 1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on 2 March, the weight-for-age All-Star Mile cements an attractive autumn double for three-year-olds in Melbourne.
The Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas has drawn sales graduates from New South Wales and Victoria to Aquis Park Gold Coast, alongside a number of Queensland entrants.
Unbeaten gelding Sydney Bowler (trained by John O’Shea) was nominal favourite to maintain his winning streak before faring poorly at yesterday’s barrier draw with gate 17.
As a result, last start Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) combatants Cifrado (Rex Lipp) and Chrysaor (Chris Waller) have firmed at the head of markets after drawing more favourably.
Toowoomba gelding Cifrado and last start Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) winner, the Robert Heathcote-trained filly Abounding, lead the race to secure a home state victory.
The Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas is run a fortnight prior to two New Zealand ‘Win and You’re In’ races at the TAB Karaka Millions Raceday in Auckland on Saturday, 27 January.
November’s Group 1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield doubled as the first ‘Win and You’re In’ race with rising Grahame Begg-trained star Magic Time successful.
The next Victorian ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the 2024 All-Star Mile comes up with the Group 1 Sportsbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, 10 February.
RV revamped the All-Star Mile selection process in 2024 to provide greater certainty for connections, reduce frustrations around the changing composition of the field, and simplify engagement for fans.
A mix of ‘Win and You’re In’ races and wildcard selections has replaced a public vote (used previously to select two-thirds of the field) to provide greater flexibility in field selection for what is Victoria’s number one turnover race of the Festival of Racing.
Quotes attributable to RV Executive General Manager – Racing, Matt Welsh
“Together with the Melbourne Racing Club, we’re excited to partner with Magic Millions for our first All-Star Mile ‘Win and You’re In’ race outside Victoria. The Magic Millions Raceday is an outstanding event and it’s great to be able to showcase the All-Star Mile up north.
“We’re pleased to offer the Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner an opportunity to shine again in the All-Star Mile. Saturday’s race has drawn a very competitive field ensuring the winner will have earned their spot at Caulfield on 16 March.
“We know from previous editions of the All-Star Mile that talented three-year-old milers can be very competitive under the weight-for-age conditions of the race. We hope the winning connections take up their prized opportunity in the All-Star Mile and also consider the Howden Australian Guineas at Flemington a fortnight prior.”
All-Star Mile Win and You’re In Races
The full list of 2024 All-Star Mile ‘Win and You’re In’ races is as follows:
- G1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 18 November 2023 – won by Magic Time
- Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) – Gold Coast, 13 January 2024
- TAB Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) – Ellerslie, 27 January 2024
- Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m, 4YO) – Ellerslie, 27 January 2024
- G1 Sportsbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 10 February 2024
- G1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 24 February 2024
- G1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m, 3YO) – Flemington, 2 March 2024
- G2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) – Flemington, 2 March 2024
With a maximum field size of 16 in the 2024 All-Star Mile, the balance of the weight-for-age field will be wildcards selected by a RV and MRC panel.