Superstar milers Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) have both been handed All-Star Mile wildcards by Racing Victoria.
RV made the announcement on Monday morning with the duo both set to go head-to-head in the March 16 feature at Caulfield.
Mr Brightside was just edged out by Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in the Cox Plate and was seen for the first time publicly last Friday in a jumpout at Flemington.
“He only had a few weeks in the paddock but he really enjoyed his time out and is now looking as good as ever,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes.
“We’ll follow the same program as last autumn and hope for the same result in The All-Star Mile. He’s such a versatile horse, he goes well on any ground and on any racetrack but it obviously gives us extra confidence that he has a very good record at Caulfield.
“The ownership group is having the times of their lives, some of them are first-time owners and they can’t believe their luck. Some people go their whole lives without owning a horse half as good as him, so they’re loving every minute of the ride and hopefully we can create some more memories this prep.”
All-Star Mile eyes will be switched to New Zealand this weekend with two ‘win-and-you’re-in’ races set for Ellerslie’s Karaka Millions meeting.
The winners of the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) for four-year-olds will be offered a guaranteed start in The 2024 All-Star Mile, which will this year feature a field of 16 runners.
