Written by Paul Vettise
Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars) and Superstorm (Sebring) have been handed the final wild card entries for the 15-horse $5 million All-Star Mile.
They join Streets Of Avalon (Magnus), winner of the G1 Futurity S. and Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who won Saturday's G2 Blamey S., in the race at Caulfield on March 14.
Streets Of Avalon (maroon) winning the G1 Futurity S.
“I’m really pleased. When we announced the top 10 we had six Group 1 winners and Alligator Blood did the right thing in the Australian Guineas so that makes seven,” Racing Victoria’s Executive General Manager of Racing Greg Carpenter said.
“Streets Of Avalon won the Futurity so that makes eight and Fifty Stars we added to the list on Saturday. The three wild cards have now really enhanced the field of 15.
“There’s only two Group 1 handicaps run in Victoria, the Toorak and the Canatala, and Fierce Impact is the reigning champion in both of those. He was very good in the CF Orr S. first-up and then very good behind Te Akau Shark in the Chipping Norton.
“Black Heart Bart is a popular old warrior from Western Australia. Black Heart Bart has won six Group 1 events and five of them at Caulfield and then there’s Superstorm , a wonderful 3-year-old from South Australia.
Fan-favourite Black Heart Bart
“It’s a great field, lots of winning chances and I think it will be a great betting race.”
“It’s a great field, lots of winning chances and I think it will be a great betting race.” – Greg Carpenter
Last month the 10 most popular horses voted by the public were announced and they were: Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) along with Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Star Missile (Smart Missile), Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}), Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Mr Quickie (Shamus Award), Aristia (Lonhro), Heart Of Puissance (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) and Super Seth (Dundeel {NZ}).
“Right at the moment, we’ve 15 horse locked in. We’ve got provisional emergencies and if a horse comes out between now and Tuesday week the provisional emergency will go in,” Carpenter said.
“James Cummings holds all the aces there. He’s got Alizee, Avilius and Flit. If a horse comes out between now and before final acceptances, James will be able to look at his horses and think which one fits the All-Star profile best and it will go in to replace the scratched horse.
“Final declarations are Tuesday, March 10. If there is a scratching after that the final list of emergencies again will take the place of the scratched horse.”
