Flemington will become the first track to dually host the $5 million The All-Star Mile this Saturday in Melbourne and below are our insider tips and best bets on the world’s richest mile race.
Cascadian looks a nice value roughie to take Each Way in the 2022 The All-Star Mile on Saturday. Ultimate Racing Photos.
A gun field of 15 middle-distance stars faces off at headquarters for the fourth edition of The All-Star Mile in 2022 and the markets are led by firming favourite Zaaki ($3 into $2.90).
Second-up after being beaten fresh in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) here by fellow The All-Star Mile rival Inspirational Girl, the champ is tipped to turn the tables fitter for the run despite drawing the outside alley.
He lost few admirers as the beaten favourite there in a slowly-run race and was only narrowly denied by the better-weighted mare who had the benefit of an earlier autumn run in the C.F. Orr.
The stage is set for a great rematch with the Blamey Stakes quinella both on the improve.
Inspirational Girl has a bit of x-factor herself and gets the gun run from barrier four chasing another top-level mile win following her 2020 Railway Stakes success back in Perth.
So, will the top two in The All-Star Mile betting fight it out in the finish again or is there an upset pending? Read on for our insider predictions before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for the top The All-Star Mile odds and offers.
Favourite: #2 Zaaki ($2.90 at time of publish) – BET NOW
He’s the deserving favourite with class and improvement on his side, but he does need to turn the tables on Inspirational Girl. It wasn’t his best run fresh at this track/distance last time out, but with a stronger pace in the All-Star Mile and with the benefit of that run he is the obvious one to beat. The draw makes it tricker for Jamie Kah as he’ll need to do it from the carpark, but the spring’s Mackinnon Stakes winner has previously won second-up as favourite when two lengths clear of Probabeel in the Group 1 underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfiled at short odds. The 2000m is more his go, but he’s a star. EACH WAY.
Best Bet: #12 Inspirational Girl ($5.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Only a neck between her and Zaaki when she won the Blamey here last start and, despite having had a few things go her way there, think she can do it again. She needs to improve no doubt, but she’s a firecracker and she’s got that late speed to show them the way home. Gets the run of the race from barrier four with Damian Lane in the saddle again and still improving third-up on Saturday. She’s won without worry third-up before and is only lightly-raced. Group 1 Railway winner back in 2020 and while Zaaki meets her better off in the rematch, think she could be better than a few first thought. BEST BET.
Best Roughie: #3 Cascadian ($21 at time of publish) – BET NOW
There are plenty at double-figures that can add value to the trifecta, but going to give Cascadian another chance. The James Cummings-trained seven-year-old is yet to win from five starts at HQ, but he’s a four-time place-getter at the track so he doesn’t exactly hate it here. Genuine star at a mile and think he will relish the drop back in distance on the quick back-up off a disappointing Australian Cup fifth here over 2000m last Saturday. Prior to that he won the Peter Young Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield second-up off a CF Orr third – a good form race if you like Inspirational Girl or I’m Thunderstruck to name just a couple. He’s got the right form lines and follows a similar path that has produced success for the Godolphin stalwart in the past. VALUE.
