Racing Victoria will offer three avenues of entry into the 2025 All-Star Mile to coincide with its graduation to the ranks of Australian Group 1 races.
To be run at Flemington as part of the Victoria Racing Club’s famous Newmarket Handicap meeting on March 8, the All-Star Mile will use three mechanisms for horses to secure a start in the $2.5 million race.
Potential starters will either have to nominate, win an automatic entry race, or wait to earn a wildcard in a call jointly made by RV and the VRC decision.
Nominations will close on February 11 with late entries open until February 14.
In line with other Group 1 races, a $10,000 acceptance fee that represents 0.4 per cent of the overall purse will be payable to start in the race.
With Flemington locked in to stage the next three editions of the All-Star Mile, five Melbourne autumn features have been designated as ‘win and you’re in’ races.
Two Karaka Million races in New Zealand that figured under this entry criteria in 2024 have been axed.
The five Melbourne races in 2025 will be the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes, the Listed Elms Stakes, the Group 1 Futurity Stakes, the Group 2 Blamey Stakes and the Group 1 Australian Guineas.
If the winner of a ‘win and you’re in’ race is not an original All-Star Mile entry, connections can pay a late entry fee of $500.
“Throughout the All-Star Mile’s existence, trainers have consistently told us that they want more certainty to plan their horse’s campaign,” RV’s head of racing Paul Bloodworth said.
“With the race’s elevation to Group 1 status, the conditions seek to provide greater certainty for connections to target the race.
“After surpassing the Group 1 benchmark in each of its six editions, it is pleasing that the All-Star Mile has now been elevated to a Group 1 event by international authorities.”
Warwick Barr
Racing Victoria has cut prize money for the All-Star Mile from $4 million in 2024 to $2.5 million as part of a stakes redistribution amid a wagering downturn.
The All-Star Mile was first run in 2019 and carried a $5 million purse but its future became a topic of industry debate as officials struggled to attract a capacity field in 2024.
The race’s move to Flemington strengthens a connection to the Group 1 $2.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Victoria’s racing headquarters on March 29.
“The combination of the two Group 1 weight-for-age races at Flemington in March is an attractive double,” Bloodworth said.
“In the two years that the All-Star Mile has preceded the Australian Cup it has delivered the quinella in 2024 and first and third placegetters in 2023.”
