All Star Mile Vic Autumn

Hartnell has to get in first.

Veteran galloper Hartnell might not need a wildcard to secure a prized position in the 14-horse All-Star Mile next month after being named as the first provisional emergency for the inaugural $5 million race.

Racing Victoria confirmed on Friday that Hartnell would be elevated into the field as the first emergency if any of the 14 runners are unable to make it to the gates for the March 16 race at Flemington.

The provisional emergencies are ranked in order of prize money earned and, with Pat Webster’s evergreen warrior Happy Clapper – the leading earner of the 130 horses originally nominated for The All-Star Mile – having received a wildcard, Hartnell is next in line.

The eight-year-old, a winner of four Group 1 races in a glittering career which began in Great Britain, has amassed an impressive total of $5,538,999.

Record-breaking owner Lloyd Williams also retains a chance of being represented in the race as behind Hartnell is his two Melbourne Cup winners Almandin (2016) and Rekindling (2017) with respective career earnings of $5,323,858 and $4,123,308.

The next three horses in The All-Star Mile provisional emergency list will take their places alongside Hartnell in Saturday’s group 1 Futurity Stakes in Le Romain, Brave Smash and Redkirk Warrior.

The list of provisional emergencies will be updated as required between 21 February and 12 March if a horse is withdrawn, secures one of the three remaining wildcards, or wins additional prize money.

The four highest-ranked provisional emergencies at final acceptance time will be declared the official emergencies and be included in the barrier draw that day.

Should any of the 14 starters be withdrawn between final acceptances and scratching time at 7.30am on raceday (Saturday, 16 March) then traditional rules will apply.

The All-Star Mile provisional emergencies list as at 21 February is as follows:

1. Hartnell (James Cummings, $5,538,999)

2. Almandin (Liam Howley, $5,323,858)

3. Rekindling (Liam Howley, $4,123,308)

4. Le Romain (Kris Lees, $3,926,325)

5. Brave Smash (Kris Lees, $3,410,123)

6. Redkirk Warrior (David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, $2,781,520)

No the emergencies are if any of the top 10 drop out

The other 3 wildcards will be decided by RV.
They will be announced within the next fortnight

What a #!* shambles. 

It was an incredibly botched response to the Everest. Now I'm no fan of the Everest, but that looks like the 1971 2000 Guineas at Newmarket compared to this drivel. Restricted sales 2yo races, garbage like this- sports is supposed to be a meritocracy, right? Is it any wonder our older horses aren't worth a damn?

Going to historical race. It'll be the first time ever that the ambulance beats more than half the field home

Xavier wrote: Rumor going around that they’ll ban Urban Ruler because of his woeful performance yesterday.

So they should . Couldn’t keep up in a class 6 .

One of his 1000 owners yesterday on Facebook was crying foul of the people trolling his horse .
You can pot a bloke pot his car, his wife but never his horse .

I would be bloody embarrassed as an owner to take a horse there when it will a speed hump

Next year I’m nominating a picnic horse

Xavier wrote: Next year I’m nominating a picnic horse

Most of them are.

ExceedAndExcel wrote: Ok I’ve worked it out! This race is the opening act of the Melbourne Comedy Festival which begins 27 March. Well played VRC!

Nicely aligning with April Fools Day.

Is all publicity bad publicity? I mean there was lots of knocking of the everest until turnover figures came in. Sure this race is flawed, but even people who don't like it will still tune in, and maybe have a bet. It's getting the streisand effect at the moment, everyone who posts/tweets about how outrageous it is that Urban Ruler is there just create more attention for the race. 

That’s what was published on racing.com but I only saw it for the first time yesterday.

Can’t remember it being mentioned beforehand

What’s going on with Rekindling? Is he still in Australia?

...along with Almandin and Johanes Vermeer. But as always with this stable, I'll believe it when I see it.