Having attained Group 1 status, the All-Star Mile has come on to the radar for champion trainer Chris Waller.
Nominations for the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 8 closed on Tuesday with Waller entering seven horses in the $2.5 million race.
Since the All-Star Mile was first run in 2019, Waller has had only two starters, finishing seventh with Kolding in 2020 and sixth with Star Of The Seas the following year.
Atishu, Fangirl, Lindermann, Molly Bloom, Private Life, Scarlet Oak and Via Sistina are Waller’s seven entries among 53 total nominations that were taken on Tuesday.
Waller has indicated Atishu will be aimed at the Group 1 contest while he said Fangirl could also be Melbourne bound depending on her first-up assignment in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday where Via Sistina, along with Atishu and Linderman, are slated to return.
“This year the All-Star Mile is a Group 1 which is a bit of a drawcard for me,” Waller said.
“She (Fangirl) has come back well. She’s a plain Jane, she doesn’t give you much until race day.
“Atishu, she’ll run in the All-Star Mile and the Australian Cup. She loves Flemington and both those races are at Flemington.
“She’ll kick off on Saturday and then she’ll head down.”
Mr Brightside, who returned with a courageous second placing in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, is being aimed at the race looking to become the first horse to win the All-Star Mile on two occasions having scored in 2023 at Moonee Valley.
It will be the Lindsay Park champion’s fourth shot at the All-Star Mile having finished fourth in 2022 behind Zaaki and second last year to Pride Of Jenni at Caulfield.
Pinstriped has been nominated for a second shot, having finished 10th in last year’s edition as is Pride Of Jenni who is back in work with trainer Ciaron Maher having not raced since finishing last behind Mr Brightside in the Champions Mile at Flemington last November.
Melbourne Cup hero Knight’s Choice also features in the entry for John Symons and Sheila Laxon.
