Wildcard entry Mystic Journey has drawn a wide barrier in the 2019 $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Mystic Journey, has drawn a wide barrier in the 2019 All-Star Mile at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Tasmanian trained Mystic Journey was given a wildcard entry into the inaugural running of the All-Star Mile after producing a tough win in the Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2.

Tassie jockey Anthony Darmanin had the luxury of the rails draw in the Australian Guineas but he will have plenty of work to do this week on Mystic Journey  who has drawn barrier sixteen in the original draw in the final field of fourteen plus four emergencies.

All of the emergencies have drawn inside of the Adam Tinder trained filly and if there are no scrachings, the three year old filly will jump from gate twelve in the final fourteen horse field.

Tinder has reported that Mystic Journey has come out of the Australian Guineas in great order and is looking forward to another top shelf effort in the All-Star Mile with only 54kg on her back.

“She gets good relief under the weight-for-age scale with only 54 kilos which I think she will appreciate,” Tinder said.

“She was really good at Flemington as I expected her to be, and now that she’s had that experience I hope that she just presents a little bit better again.”

“Every time I race her she is better than the last time. I thought on the day she won really well but when I watched the replay, she was quite dominant and commanding.”

“She has bounced out of the run.”

“She did a little bit of maintenance work on Saturday morning in company because she was quite bright and bouncy, so that suggests she’s in really good order.”

Mystic Journey is well supported in the All-Star Mile betting at Ladbrokes.com.au and is on the second line of betting at $3.50 behind the James Cummings trained Futurity Stakes winner Alizee who heads the market order at $3.30.

Alizee has also drawn awkwardly but could move in three spots from her original draw of twelve if all the four emergencies fail to gain a start.

Alizee is the winner of her last four starts and Hugh Bowman has retained the ride after the pair combined for a last start win in the Group 1 $500,000 Yulong Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 23.

“Alizee’s just cruising since that win (in the Futurity Stakes),” Cummings said.

“Make no mistake, that was a hard run that she had, a hard-fought victory.

“I’m sure she will have taken a lot of benefit from that but we haven’t had to pop the hood and check what’s under it since then, she’s just been ticking over nicely.”

Cummings will also saddle up veteran galloper Hartnell (Blake Shinn) who is marked at $11 for the All-Star Mile after drawing in close at barrier two but will probably end up with the inside gate if first emergency Le Romain fails to gain a start.

Hartnell is coming off last start third to Alizee in the Futurity Stakes and Cummings can see the All-Star Mile as a perfect run for the eight year old leading into the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Day One of The Championships on April 6 .

“For Hartnell, it’s the perfect race this campaign for him as a bridging run from the Futurity (Stakes) as well as the Doncaster (Mile),” Cummings said.

“Our focus is on the All-Star Mile because his form has enabled him to gain a wildcard entry.

“And, on account of that, like he was able to win the Epsom last preparation in track record time at Randwick, he gets the opportunity to reproduce in the All-Star Mile at Flemington.

“It’s a track he enjoys. It should be a high-pressure contest and a fascinating race to be a part of.”

Final field for the 2019 All-Star Mile (1600m)