2023 All Star Mile Top Selection and Best Bet

All Star Mile tips and best bets

As racing in Australia goes the All Star Mile is a relatively new kid on the block having been first run in 2019 and won by Mystic Journey.

Since then the All Star Mile has quickly risen to the top of the racing calendar given it’s unique racing model where horses are selected to run by a public voting system modelled of the Japanese race the Amira Kinen.

There was already controversy in the 2023 All Star Mile when trainer Annabel Neasham withdrew the 2022 winner Zaaki from the action. Neasham confirmed to stewards that Zaaki was performing below the required level to mount a title defence.

With Anamoe deciding to stay in Sydney, Zaaki scratched from the field and a number of voted winners deciding to focus on there campaign objectives it left the betting for the 2023 All Star Mile wide open.

Worth $5m in prize money, making it the richest mile race in the world, there are no shortage of takers for the race with prominent trainers Price & Kent Jr, Waller, Neasham and Waterhouse and Bott all fielding strong entrants to contest the enormous prize money. 

2023 All Star Mile Race Overview

There are a few big names set to contest the All Star Mile and with a number of high profile withdrawals in recent weeks the market has changed faces significantly through the initial nominations through to the final field this week. 

After the withdrawal of Zaaki there was a period where the market didn’t know which direction to take however now punters have firmly jumped on Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Alligator Blood who has been backed into $2.70 favouritism. 

Alligator Blood was a bold winner in the Futurity Stakes when beating then race favourite I’m Thunderstruck who had been backed into a short price favourite. I’m Thunderstruck would have been at same level of price as Alligator Blood had he shown something in the Futurity, however having with punters growing weary of below par performance bookies have him at $6.50 in the market. 

The only other runner in single figures in the race is the Ben and JD Hayes trained Mr. Brightside who finished second in the Futurity on that day. He jumps from barrier 2 and carries second favouritism at $5.50.

Of the rest of the field we see a number of usual suspects lining up in the $5m Moonee Valley feature including Cascadian, Law Of Indicies, Nugget and front runner Gentleman Roy for Ben and JD Hayes.

The question is though, can anyone land a glove on the market leaders with most failing to get close last time out.

2023 All Star Mile Top Selections and Best Bet

A capacity field of 16 is set to contest the 2023 All Star Mile on Saturday at Moonee Valley as some of Australia’s best mile runners tackle the tight turns of The Valley. We have whittled out selections down to our top three picks. The outside chance, main danger and best bet. 

All Star Mile Outside Chance - 6. Law Of Indices

Trainer - Annabel Neasham

Price - $14.00

Of the best of the rest Law Of Indices for Annabel Neasham presents as an interesting runner and the jockey booking for the weekend also seems very eye-catching with Northern Hemisphere hoop Oisin Murphy booked to ride. 

Murphy has travelled down under with a number of bookings in play however the decision to ride in Melbourne first on a day where there are 5 group one races raises eyebrows. Murphy is one of the top jockeys in the UK and an extremely talented horseman to see on these shores.

Outside of that Law of Indices never goes well first up however two solid runs in the Apollo Stakes followed by a fourth place finish behind Anamoe in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes all point the Neasham runner in the right direction.

At $14 he presents excellent eachway value here. 

All Star Mile Main Danger - 1. I’m Thunderstruck

Trainer - Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr

Price - $6.50

Well we’re here again. Putting I’m Thunderstruck down as a top selection because you just don’t quite know what he’s going to do.

He’s such a frustrating horse to follow having been backed off the map in his first two starts to finish fourth and fifth. The stable did argue that those two runs were never the right distance but i think the trust has gone with this fella. 

He’ll look to get back and finish strongly but the mind says he’ll just miss at The Valley once again. Good eachway price but not willing to go chips in again. 

All Star Mile 2023 Best Bet - 2. Alligator Blood

Trainer - Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Price - $2.70

Our top pick for the $5m All Star Mile is Alligator Blood trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

His form since the Spring has been brilliant, claiming three Group One titles with the most recent a confident win in the Group One Futurity Stakes where he defeated most of these runners at Sandown Lakeside.

Alligator Blood was so strong that day it’s hard to see the results being reversed. Add to that the plan Waterhouse and Bott are trying to execute when retaining the services of Blake Shinn for both Futurity and All Star races as well as the fact they have been trialling him at the Valley in between runs it all seems to stack in favour of the 6 year old. 

From Barrier 7 you can see him going forward, whether to lead or sit off the leaders it could work either way but come the home straight the gelding should have enough in the tank to hold off the crowd. 

Back Alligator Blood to Win.