All-Star Mile revamped for return to Caulfield in 2024

[Wandering Eyes]

The 2024 All-Star Mile will be revamped with the aim of ensuring an all-star cast is assembled for Victoria’s premier mile race.

For the first time the All-Star Mile will be run two weeks prior to the TAB Australian Cup (2000m) providing a lucrative $7 million weight-for-age double.

The only feature race on rotation between Victoria’s metropolitan clubs, the All-Star Mile returns to Caulfield for a second time on Saturday, 16 March 2024.

Following a review conducted after this year’s edition, Racing Victoria (RV) has today announced key details around the 2024 All-Star Mile.

Central to the announcement is a revised field selection process designed to ensure an optimum field, provide greater certainty to trainers and owners, remove frustrations around the changing composition of the field, and simplify the engagement process.

Additionally, the revised structure aligns with RV’s strategy of defining clear pathways to big races, making it easy for racing fans at all knowledge levels to understand and follow.

The new look commences this Saturday, 18 November with the $1 million Group 1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield announced as the first of an expanded list of All-Star Mile ‘Win and You’re In’ races.

An overview of the 2024 All-Star Mile is as follows:

1.The race will be conducted as a weight-for-age mile with prizemoney of $4 million and the maximum field size increased from 15 to 16 starters;
2. Field selection is revised to be a mixture of automatic entry races and wildcards, with a public vote no longer conducted to select the first 10 runners;
3. The retention of Owner Ambassadors for each All-Star to provide everyday Australians with the chance to again experience the thrill of big race ownership;
4. Plans for a simplified competition that provides more everyday Australians the opportunity to participate and potentially share in All-Star Mile glory;
5. The introduction of earlier ‘Win and You’re In’ races to assist trainers in planning, commencing with this weekend’s repositioned Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes;
6. A new partnership that will see New Zealand’s TAB Karaka Millions Raceday host ‘Win and You’re In’ races for the first time; and
7. The $1.5 million TAB Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m, 4YO) on 27 January 2024 at Ellerslie will offer All-Star Mile berths to two of New Zealand’s best horses.

“The All-Star Mile has quickly become a must-win race of the Festival of Racing. It is our number one turnover race of the summer and autumn, creating great interest for fans.

“Each year we review the All-Star Mile to ensure it is delivering on its key objectives. We’re revamping the 2024 All-Star Mile to provide greater certainty for connections, reduce frustrations around the changing composition of the field, and simplify engagement for fans.

“We want to attract the best field possible and ensure the race connects perfectly with the Australian Cup which will be run a fortnight after the All-Star Mile for the first time in 2024.

“The new mixture of ‘Win and You’re In’ races and wildcard selections provides greater flexibility in field selection, whist ensuring we retain intrigue around its composition.

“We’re excited to introduce ‘Win and You’re In’ races in New Zealand, particularly given the growing engagement of New Zealand fans and punters in our racing.

“Fans will still have a say in shaping the field with some input to be sought into wildcard spots through polls and engagement via our digital platforms and broadcast partners.

“The Owner Ambassadors have provided some amazing stories in the first five years and we plan on retaining this unique element that brings lucky fans into the inner sanctum and offers a life-changing prize pool.

“Details on an Owner Ambassadors competition will follow at a later date, but it is our intention is to make it simple and free for fans to participate.”

The current list of 2024 All-Star Mile ‘Win and You’re In’ races is as follows:

G1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 18 November 2023
TAB Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) – Ellerslie, 27 January 2024
Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m, 4YO) – Ellerslie, 27 January 2024
G1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 10 February 2024
G1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 24 February 2024
G1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m, 3YO) – Flemington, 2 March 2024
G2 TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m) – Flemington, 2 March 2024
An announcement of an eighth ‘Win and You’re In’ race will be made at a later date.

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